Construction work started this week on the Lyminster Bypass in West Sussex.
The £23.8m construction contract has been awarded to Jackson Civil Engineering.
The new road will have verge on one side and a footway/cycleway on the other and link up with the recently-constructed southern section of the bypass to complete a new, 1.1-mile carriageway running to the east of Lyminster and Wick villages.
West Sussex County Council said the new route will help ease congestion, boost the local economy and provide north-south access from the A27.
It added that as far as possible the new carriageway will be constructed off line from the existing highway network.
Cabinet member for highways and transport Joy Dennis said: ‘Initial, enabling works, such as vegetation clearance, had already been completed, but now the main construction phase started on Monday. This is very positive news.
‘Helping to provide a sustainable and prosperous economy is one of the priorities in Our Council Plan and, by providing this new highway infrastructure, we will be supporting the provision of 1,260 new homes and 700 new jobs in the region.
‘It’s also hoped that, by providing improved cyclist and pedestrian facilities, more people will be encouraged to make local trips on foot or by bike, helping lower our carbon footprint, another key priority in our Council Plan.’
A new viaduct will be constructed over Black Ditch and its associated flood plain with the aim of ensuring that flood risk does not increase. The existing culvert will be extended at Brookfield Stream.
The scheme is being funded by Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund, developer contributions (Section 106 funds), the Department for Transport and the county council.
The council said the project will take until autumn 2024 to complete.
