Highways Agency appoints firms to consider A27 bypass options

The 2309 Highways Agency in the UK has appointed a joint venture between 2579 Mott MacDonald and Grontmij to analyse various options for upgrades to the A27 Chichester Bypass. The aim of this project is to improve traffic flow and relieve congestion. The bypass is a 5km dual carriageway with five roundabouts and one signal control junction. It provides a key east-west transport link along the south coast of England. This connects Brighton, Worthing, Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton. It currently suffers from heavy congestion both during peak times as well as during holiday periods and at weekends. The team from the joint venture will assess improvement options to relieve congestion along the route. These will be tested against key engineering, environment and economic criteria and taken through public consultations to identify a preferred option. The team will also address issues such as connectivity and accessibility for non-motorised users and public transport.