Progress report

Following consultation and our public information events, we have now been granted permission to start work on the scheme. We are now planning to start work on site by the end of March. This work will include establishing a site compound and clearing sections of the site in preparation. This work will not have any major impact on road users.

Additionally, the Compulsory Purchase and Side Road orders for Polegate and Berwick junctions have been confirmed and the General Vesting Declaration process has begun. All documentation, including the S15 notices is available in the Media and Documents section below under Highways Act. Hard copies were available at deposit point locations but these have closed due to Covid-19. For hard copies, please email the scheme inbox at A27EastofLewes@higwaysengland.co.uk

What's next?

We will start the main works towards the end of April/beginning of May – this work will be carried out under lane closures along the Polegate Bypass between Polegate and the Cophall roundabout.

Timeline

Date	Event
April 2016	Stakeholder workshop
Late 2016	Have your say on proposed options
Summer 2017	Preferred route announcement
March 2019	Public information exhibitions (junctions)
3 May 2019	Publication of orders (Junctions)
14 June 2019	End of representation period
July 2019	Public information exhibitions (Shared use path)
December 2019	Publication of orders (Shared use path)
Spring 2020	Start of work
2022	Open to traffic

Highways Act 1980 Orders

Highways England published the Orders for the A27 East of Lewes improvement scheme under the Highways Act 1980 on 3 May 2019. The scheme proposals require the following Orders:

The Highways England (A27 trunk road East of Lewes Improvement scheme) (Berwick and Polegate junctions) (Side Roads) Order 2019

• Side Roads Order - Schedule and plans
• Side Roads Order - Public Notice

The Highways England (A27 trunk road East of Lewes Improvement scheme) (Berwick and Polegate junctions) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

• Compulsory Purchase Order – Order and Schedule booklet
• Compulsory Purchase Order - Plans
• Compulsory Purchase Order - Public Notice

Supporting documents that have also been published include:

• Statement of Reasons
• Statement of Reasons - Addendum
• Consultation Report
• Preliminary Design Drawings (available in the 'Highways Act 1980 Orders' section below)

Highways England subsequently published the Orders for the A27 East of Lewes Improvement scheme (Shared Use Path) under the Highways Act 1980 on 13 December 2019:

The Highways England (A27 trunk road East of Lewes Improvement scheme)(Shared Use Path)(Side Roads) Order 2019

• Side Roads Order - Schedule and plans
• Side Roads Order - Public Notice

The Highways England (A27 trunk road East of Lewes Improvement scheme)(Shared Use Path) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

• Compulsory Purchase Order - Order and Schedule booklet
• Compulsory Purchase Order - Plans
• Compulsory Purchase Order - Commons Replacement Plans
• Compulsory Purchase Order - Public Notice

Supporting documents that have also been published

Statement of Reasons

Why we need this scheme

The A27 to the east of Lewes suffers from congestion due to the narrow carriageway and low capacity at junctions. There are limited overtaking opportunities, meaning that traffic regularly queues behind cyclists and other slow moving vehicles.

Aims

The aim of this scheme is to address safety, capacity, sustainability and accessibility issues on this stretch of the A27. We aim to:

• reduce travel time and improve journey time reliability along the A27 section
• promote modes of travel and behaviours which minimise traffic and congestion
• provide safer roads
• connect communities currently separated by the route
• improve accessibility for all users into the South Downs National Park
• minimise impact on natural environment

Roadworks and Events for England

The latest incident information for England's motorway and trunk routes provided by Highways England