Traffic islands installed and road markings painted where Queensway Gateway Road runs into Whitworth Road on its approach to the A21.
“Spring” completion for Queensway Gateway junction
Work continues on joining the Queensway Gateway Road to the A21 while vehicles travelling the main road where the junction is being constructed close to The Ridge continue to be inconvenienced. East Sussex Highways can give no more definite date for the completion of the project than “spring.” Nick Terdre provides an update.
Following a month or so from Christmas until 20 January when traffic was allowed to use both lanes of the A21, the single lane flow has been reinstated, causing at busy times lengthy tailbacks, not only on the A21 itself but also on the A28 where it feeds into the A21 just north of The Ridge bridge, as drivers join the queue waiting for their turn to get past the pinch-point.
The temporary traffic lights will remain in place until the completion of the project, and there will also be some overnight road closures in the coming weeks, East Sussex Highways says on its website.
The section where the new road joins Whitworth Road has now been tidied up and looks ready for action, with crossing islands installed in the middle and road markings painted.
In an update the highways agency told HOT:
“Work completed in January included new drainage and gully installations, kerbing works, traffic island and traffic signal ducting installations, as well as further investigatory inspections and ecology works. The significant works required on Whitworth Road have also been completed.
“In addition, repairs to sections of damaged drainage pipes within the work site and on the live traffic lane have been carried out by Southern Water.
“We are continuing to work with our delivery partners on options to accelerate construction of the next phase of the project, which involves the challenging diversion of a watermain pipe in the A21 embankment, and will provide more information to the local community as soon as we can.”
The works are now due to be complete in spring, but no more definite date is available.
“The Queensway Gateway Road is a large and complex infrastructure project, which we are committed to completing as soon as possible,” a spokesperson said.
“We appreciate the disruption caused by these essential works and thank residents and road users for their patience as we work to complete this key infrastructure scheme.”
Meanwhile residents can savour the prospect of HBC leader Cllr Julia Hilton and other Green councillors, whose party was prominent in opposing the road, joining forces with East Sussex County Council leader Keith Glazier, the road’s foremost supporter, to cut the ribbon and inaugurate it whenever it is finally ready.
View from Dunelm car park: the one-way traffic flow will remain in force until the project is completed, says East Sussex Highways.
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Surely this must be a Guinness Book of Records for this road.
For three reasons:
The eleven years since it first hit the planning committee
The length of the road taking that time to get finally finished.
The cost per yard of it.
Another great achievement in the list of SeaSpace aka SeaChange or whatever order it is.
Oh an beware…..Spring has not got here yet !
Comment by Richard Heritage — Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025 @ 16:48
As a result of my “hilarious” journeys to get to work this week following East Sussex highways enlightened decisions to close St Helens Road along with Rock Lane this week forcing everyone onto Stonestile – I’ve just phoned the East Sussex highways complaints line. Anyone who wants to complain about the project can email queenswaygateway@balfourbeatty.com
Oh and the reason I have time to do this is that I’ve had to take the day off as my van is in the garage having its suspension fixed thanks to the potholes on the lane. At least the sun is shining
Comment by Catherine Haydock — Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 @ 10:04
To be fair to East Sussex Highways, they do refer to “Spring 2025” on their website (https://live.eastsussexhighways.com/highway-schemes/queensway-gateway-junction-improvements). I assumed that if I mentioned spring, readers would know I meant the next spring to come along, rather than spring next year or in several years’ time. Apologies if I caused any confusion. We wait, however, to see if it really is the coming spring!
Comment by Nick Terdre — Tuesday, Mar 4, 2025 @ 10:01
Thanks, Nick, for the update. Hopefully ’Spring’ means in a few weeks, and not March 2026!
Comment by John Cole — Monday, Mar 3, 2025 @ 12:10
So, now the propaganda machine pronounces a spring opening. But they omitted what year that may be. Spring 2032, perhaps!
Comment by JOHN GOODRIDGE — Monday, Mar 3, 2025 @ 10:03
Why does every project in this country always take longer and cost more than planned? Please can someone explain this to me? It’s beyond me!
Comment by David Stevenson — Sunday, Mar 2, 2025 @ 16:07
I’m afraid there was more chance of the republic being restored in Vitrivius’s lifetime than there is of an independent investigation into this project.
Comment by Christopher Hurrell — Sunday, Mar 2, 2025 @ 13:02
It is time for an indepenedent investigation into the gross mis-management of this project, to determine exactly what went wrong and where responsibilites lie. Will it happen? Certianly not without a lot of public pressure.
Comment by Vitruvius — Sunday, Mar 2, 2025 @ 10:46