New route into Eastbourne

ROAD signs are going up to direct people into Eastbourne via new Polegate by-pass.

The by-pass will carry traffic around Polegate and on to a new A22 link road into Eastbourne. It is expected that it will open this month.

The signing works began in January and approximately 200 new signs have been erected with a further 60 signs made, but not yet installed, because of possible driver confusion if the new signs were erected without the new A22 road being opened.

However, due to the time required to erect the remainder of the signs, and the fact that a large number of these signs will be put on to the existing sign posts, work to put up the remaining signs started at the weekend.

Lead Cabinet member for Transport and Environment, Cllr Tony Reid, said: 'Every effort will be made to minimise the potential for driver confusion, but this could occur between now and the opening of the new roads, when it may not be possible to follow a signed route to Eastbourne town centre or neighbouring areas. We apologise for any inconvenience which may be incurred by drivers during this transition period.'

The new A22 will carry the vast majority of the traffic from the A27 at Polegate into Eastbourne along a 2km stretch of dual carriageway onto Willingdon Drove.

Traffic heading for the town centre and areas in the west of Eastbourne will be directed along Cross Levels Way. Traffic heading for the seafront and areas in the east of Eastbourne will be directed along Lottbridge Drove. The existing A22 through Willingdon will be renumbered the A2270.