The opening date of a new link road in East Sussex has been announced by the county council after a series of severe delays set the project back by almost a decade.
The new Queensway Gateway Road was previously expected to be completed in 2016. It is now scheduled for completion on 31 August this year.
Two major causes of the delays were an unsuccessful judicial review and a change of contractor.
Speaking in the House of Commons, MP for Hastings and Rye Helena Dollimore said that the delays meant that ‘local businesses have lost millions’.
She added that local residents had begun referring to the project as ‘the road to nowhere’.
The project, which will connect the A21 Sedlescombe Road North and Queensway in Hastings, aims to reduce congestion between the town and the neighbouring Bexhill.
The remaining work is now being carried out by Balfour Beatty Living Places and is expected to include the permanent closure of Junction Road and the creation of a public right of way and cycle path, as well as improvements to the A21 Sedlescombe Road North.
More details on the project can be found here.
Image credit: Shutterstock @Oliver Hlavaty Photo
