Work to start on new bus and cycle lane on A23 at Patcham

Work is set to begin next week on a new bus and cycle lane aimed at improving journey reliability, road safety and traffic flow on a major route into Brighton. The lane will be built on the southbound side of the A23 at Patcham, between Brangwyn Crescent and Brangwyn Drive. Once completed, it will operate […]

Work is set to begin next week on a new bus and cycle lane aimed at improving journey reliability, road safety and traffic flow on a major route into Brighton.

The lane will be built on the southbound side of the A23 at Patcham, between Brangwyn Crescent and Brangwyn Drive. Once completed, it will operate 24 hours a day and will be available for use by buses, cyclists and taxis.

The new lane will replace the existing cycle lane and forms part of a wider set of improvements planned by Brighton & Hove City Council. The scheme will also include the installation of a new pedestrian crossing, resurfacing of the road and a reduction in the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph.

Council officials say the road is wide enough to accommodate the new lane without reducing the number of existing traffic lanes. This means buses, taxis and cyclists will have their own dedicated space, which is expected to help ease congestion and allow other traffic to move more freely.

The project is being funded by the Department for Transport through the council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.

Construction is scheduled to start on Wednesday 18 March and is expected to take around 10 weeks to complete.

Residents living in the area will continue to have access to their homes during the works, although temporary traffic lights may be required at times while construction is underway.

Councillor Trevor Muten, Brighton & Hove City Council’s cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure, said the scheme would benefit both public transport and road safety.

He said the improvements would help make bus journeys more reliable while also improving safety for residents and cyclists. He added that the A23 is a busy route into the city centre and the new lane should help buses keep to their schedules.

According to the council, the fact that no traffic lanes need to be removed means the scheme should also help reduce congestion by giving buses, taxis and cyclists their own dedicated space. The addition of a pedestrian crossing and the lower speed limit are also intended to make the area safer for everyone travelling through it.