At Long Last
The final section of Queensway Gateway Road connecting the A21 Sedlescombe Road North and Queensway finally opened to traffic last Tuesday (30 September)… just nine years behind the original schedule!
The road, which was designed to improve traffic flow and transport links between Bexhill and Hastings, was first due to open in November 2016 but it was delayed by a judicial review. Work on the final section finally began in September 2024 and was due to be completed by last Christmas, but repeated setbacks delayed the construction further.
The new A21 Seddlescombe Road North Junction
East Sussex County Council apologised for the delays and for the disruption the works have caused residents saying the scheme had been “a complicated project that had encountered a series of technical challenges”. The contractors, Balfour Beatty Living Places, said these included the relocation of a major water main from an embankment along with remedial work along Whitworth Road to install new drainage and gullies.
The new road improvements include a new traffic island and signals, a new public right of way and cycle path along with improvements to the A21 Sedlescombe Road North with the installation of new traffic signals.
As well as the new road being opened to traffic, temporary traffic restrictions including those on Whitworth Road and Maplehurst Road have been removed.
The new junction includes adaptive traffic signals designed to adjust to the current traffic conditions. These signals can take time to fully adapt to traffic patterns and will be checked during the period of monitoring.
East Sussex CC warned that “a small amount” of overnight work was still required on the road and that the public would be notified of dates as they were confirmed.
A spokesperson for the council said the road would make travel between Bexhill and Hastings quicker and easier, adding it would also allow nearby land to be developed for commercial use.
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