The new £120 million Bexhill to Hastings link road will be officially opened today (17 December 2015).
The link road, named Combe Valley Way, will bring an estimated £1 billion of economic benefits to East Sussex and deliver up to 2,000 new homes and 3,000 new jobs.
The East Sussex County Council highway – built at a cost of £120m, including £56m from the Department for Transport – is also expected to reduce congestion on the A259 by up to 40%.
The opening comes after Glovers House, the new 25,000 square foot business centre developed by Sea Change Sussex on land opened up by the link road, welcomed its first tenant, Park Holidays UK.
Preliminary work on the road began in 2012, but the opening date was delayed by anti-road protests, extreme weather and archaeological work.
County council leader Cllr Keith Glazier said: “It’s been a long journey but it’s fantastic to see the new road completed and ready to welcome traffic.
“As with any project on this scale, there have been challenges along the way, but I’d like to pay tribute to our link road project team, who have worked so hard to get the road open.
“Combe Valley Way will help to regenerate one of the most deprived areas of the south east, providing new jobs, new homes and significant economic benefits, and cutting congestion on the A259 and other local roads.”
Roads Minister Andrew Jones said: "This new south coast link will end years of frustration for local people, providing far quicker journeys across the region and unlocking ambitious development plans.
"This road is further evidence of this government's commitment to improving the UK's transport infrastructure, creating opportunities for the development of new homes, business and jobs.
"The communities of Bexhill and Hastings have waited a long time for this day and now they have an improved road network to help them get around and get on."
