Transport for the South East has welcomed the announcement from Highways England of a preferred route for a bypass on the A27 near Arundel in West Sussex.

The scheme will address a congestion pinch point on the only major east-west transport corridor south of the M25, connecting a number of cities and ports that are critical to the South East – and UK – economy.

The importance of the route to regional and national prosperity means it has already been identified by Transport for the South East as a key focus for investment as part of a thirty-year transport strategy. The strategy confirms that congestion and slow journey times on both road and rail links along the south coast are a significant barrier to economic growth in the region. 

Read our A27 Arundel bypass consultation response

“This announcement is good news for people and businesses in the South East. A better A27 will improve journeys between some of our region’s biggest cities and ports, supporting economic recovery and growth here in the South East and across the UK.

“A fit-for-purpose road network is vital to the South East’s prosperity – but we also recognise that investment is needed in other areas to ensure a sustainable future. That’s why Transport for the South East continues to make the case for schemes and initiatives to support the shift to electric vehicles, boost the availability and attractiveness of public transport, get freight off our roads and onto our railways and help more people choose to walk and cycle.”

Cllr Keith Glazier, chair of Transport for the South East

Transport for the South East is a partnership bringing together local government and business leaders from across the region to speak with one voice on the region’s investment priorities. Its thirty-year transport strategy, published this summer, identifies investment in an improved M27/A27/A259/East Coastway/West Coastway corridor as being crucial to the region’s economic recovery and future sustainable growth.