Mott MacDonald Grontmij Joint Venture (MMG JV) has been commissioned by the Highways Agency to identify options to improve traffic flow and relieve congestion on the Chichester Bypass section of the A27.
The bypass is a 5km dual carriageway trunk road with five roundabouts and one signal control junction. It provides the only strategic east-west transport link along the south coast of England linking Brighton, Worthing, Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton and beyond. It currently suffers from considerable congestion not just at peak times but throughout the day.
Engineers from MMG JV will develop and assess various improvement options to relieve congestion along the route. These will be tested against key engineering, environment and economic criteria and taken through public consultations to identify a preferred option.
MMG JV project director Andrew Theobald said: “Improvements to the bypass should help boost the economy of the local area by improving journey reliability, supporting the numerous proposed development areas along the route and enhancing the surrounding environment. They will also address issues such as connectivity and accessibility for non-motorised users and public transport.”
He added: “There are numerous challenges to consider when exploring improvement options. A large number of properties and local businesses front the bypass and there are also a number of new housing developments that have been proposed or have already started in close proximity. There are also environmental sensitivities and we will seek to maximise the legacy of any improvement on the wider economy.”
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