(Position at February 2020)
Background
The A29 realignment scheme is an important part of the aims for Arun District, as outlined in the West Sussex Transport Plan. The Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) also shares this vision in its Strategic Economic Plan.
The existing A29 currently experiences traffic congestion during peak periods, especially at the Woodgate level crossing. This has led to unreliable journey times and queuing vehicles, affecting air quality.
The Arun Local Plan has identified that the Barnham, Eastergate and Westergate areas would require additional infrastructure to support planned, local development. Therefore, West Sussex County Council (WSCC) has commissioned a feasibility study to refine the design presented in the Arun Local Plan.
The proposed scheme
The A29 realignment will deliver a new 4.34km road to the east of Eastergate, Westergate and Woodgate villages.
The scheme will be delivered in 2 phases:
- Phase 1 - From the A29 south of Eastergate Lane to a new junction with Barnham Road
- Phase 2 - From Barnham Road to a new junction on the A29 south of Lidsey bends.
The proposed road will help to provide a more reliable connection to Bognor Regis and reduce traffic along the section of the existing A29 that is proposed to be bypassed, especially at the Woodgate level crossing and the War Memorial junction.
This will improve and reduce people’s journeys and help provide safer journeys for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.
The new road will enable access to land that is allocated for development in the adopted Arun Local Plan, thereby providing access to new jobs and new homes in Arun District.
Both phases of the scheme include:
- new single carriageway road (in each direction), with a combined cycleway/footway along its entire length
- potential planting of trees in verges between the carriageway and combined cycleway/footway
- construction of a new railway bridge over the existing West Coastway railway line with provision for cycling and walking routes parallel to the railway line on both sides
- construction of a foot and cycle bridge to support the local school cycling and walking routes
- improved links for Public Rights of Way into future green spaces
- provision of pedestrian crossing points at junctions.
What we are working on now
- The Transport Business Case submitted to the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was approved by their Investment Board on 17 October 2019. Subsequently, they have awarded £9.9 million of Local Growth Funding for the delivery of Phase 1; WSCC has now entered into a funding agreement with the LEP.
- The award for the design and build contract for Phase 1 has been given to Jackson Civil Engineering Group Ltd. The initial focus will be on the detailed design element of the scheme and where possible and appropriate, they will be incorporating aspects of the consultation responses.
- A planning application and Environmental Impact Assessment is currently being prepared for Phase 1 and we hope to submit it to WSCC Planning in the summer of 2020.
- Ecological and environmental surveys for Phase 1 are ongoing.
Proposed Phase 1 timelines
- Start of detailed design - January 2020
- Submission of planning application - summer 2020
- Finish of detail design - winter 2020
- Start of construction of the road - spring 2021
Supporting information
- Exhibition banners (PDF, 7.3MB)
- A29 realignment scheme - Frequently asked questions (PDF, 449KB)
- A29 forecast flow difference comparison am peak (PDF, 424KB)
- A29 forecast flow difference comparison pm peak (PDF, 421KB)
- Draft A29 realignment Transport Business Case (PDF, 35MB)
