West Sussex Highways has successful bid for the Department for Transport‘s £2.4 million Safer Roads Fund to improve the dangerous road between Halnaker and Petworth
The fund will go towards the following road safety improvements:
- constructing sections of hard strip safety edge at the side of the road to help in cases of driver error
- introducing a ribbed edge line, similar to the ones found on motorways and dual carriageways
- making lane widths more consistent
Roger Elkins, county council Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said: “Over half of the serious accidents on the A285 involve drivers leaving the road: the ribbed edge line will introduce an audible and tactile warning to drivers if they leave their lane.
“The new hard strip will allow them time to recover and steer back to the road before they run onto the verge, from where is it far more difficult to regain control.”
The works are due to start on the 8th October, where improvements will be carried out in 300m sections. During this time, one or two sets of temporary traffic lights will be put in place to assist the safety of the workforce and the public.
Belfour Beatty Living Places will be the main contractor overseeing the project.
Steve Phillips, Contract Director for Balfour Beatty Living Places, said: “We are pleased to be implementing a number of highways improvements to the A285 between Halnaker and Petworth.
“The A285 is a critical road for West Sussex, and these measures will give drivers using the road more space and lane boundary warning to help improve road safety.”
The council has issued an advanced apology for any inconvenience caused and has advised that the contractor will do their utmost to minimise possible delays.
Working times will be from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and the lights will be manually controlled at peak periods.
