Concerns over safety of junction in project to upgrade A2300 in Burgess Hill

Safety concerns over the £23million upgrade works on the A2300 in Burgess Hill have been raised by residents and businesses in the area.
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Families living in Stairbridge Lane, along with 60 businesses at the Bolney Grange Business Park, say they are ‘extremely concerned’ about a T-junction being constructed as part of the dual carriageway works.

A spokesman for the group said: “This is a busy junction, with many commercial vehicles, including slow moving HGVs.
Planners have ignored urgent requests to reconsider the work to instead build a roundabout so that traffic can safely join the A2300.

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“Initially, a slip road was to be built, but this decision has been overturned. Traffic coming onto the A2300 from the A23 is already very fast-moving by the time it gets to the junction with Stairbridge Lane.

Concerned residents and business ownersConcerned residents and business owners
Concerned residents and business owners

“The new dual carriageway will only increase speeds. 
“The decision to permanently close the gap across the A2300 will result in a 1.5 mile detour to get to the A23 causing environmental damage and greater pollution, let alone the wasted time and the additional Eastbound traffic this will cause.

“Arguments against a roundabout as an alternative to the gap on the A2300 are outweighed by the dangers posed by a T-junction emerging directly on to a motorway standard dual carriageway.”

‘Well publicised’

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said the A2300 major improvement scheme was a ‘well publicised and consulted upon project which will provide a key transport link and the infrastructure needed to support new homes, local economic recovery and growth’.

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The road will be turned into a dual carriageway to support the Northern Arc development, which will include 3,500 homes and is expected to provide 3,600 new jobs in the space for businesses. The road upgrade is designed to reduce congestion and provide new facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

The council says the junction at Stairbridge Lane complies with highway design standards: “To ensure this and ensure the safety of all road users, the gap in the central reservation at the A2300/Stairbridge Lane junction will need to be closed following the upgrade to a dual carriageway. Traffic modelling results indicate that there is likely to be a very small impact on journey times following the closure.”

The spokesman said a roundabout had been ruled out as unsuitable, partly due to “very unequal traffic flows on each of the four ‘arms’. Suitable gaps in the traffic flow would be infrequent, leading to delays which would defeat a key objective of the scheme, as well as road safety issues.”

He added: “The outline design developed for the 2018 public engagement did include a merge taper from Stairbridge Lane to the A2300. However, this was revised to the current give way layout following a detailed review at the final design stage to significantly improve the visibility to oncoming traffic on the A2300 and is therefore a safer option. In addition, this revised layout minimises loss of trees and likely impact to residential properties on Jobs Lane.”

‘I am supporting this important work’

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Mims Davies, MP for Mid Sussex, said: “Since becoming the new MP for Mid Sussex in December, I have been engaging with constituents, councillors, local businesses and WSCC regarding the upcoming changes to the A2300 in the Burgess Hill area.

“I’m aware this has been in the planning and consultation phase for a number of years and following a more recent funding announcement this scheme is now in its implementation phase.

“I appreciate that strong local concerns have been raised about the change from the original planned formal slip road for vehicles joining from Stairbridge Lane.

“I understand this has occurred due to both line of sight and health and safety issues.

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“I’m assured by WSCC that the vast majority of vehicles will be able to smoothly join the A2300 although, as with many junctions, articulated lorries may have to wait for a longer gap to join if other users do not take advantage of the second lane and move across for them.

“There is a group of businesses and local residents who are engaging regularly with WSCC to address some concerns further up Stairbridge Lane and I understand that WSCC are actively working with them to try to address their concerns and I am supporting this important work.

“The widening of the A2300 is a long planned key part of the development of the Burgess Hill area. It is a precursor to the forthcoming Northern Arc project and I am hoping that it will play a key role in attracting more visitors and businesses as plans progress for the regeneration of Burgess Hill into a destination for employment, shopping, sport and culture as well as supporting new housing.”