Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

The Project

Background

The level crossing at Beddingham was a well known congestion point on the A27. There were 25 incidents at the crossing associated with the automatic barrier during the period 1999 to 2002, posing a significant risk to both road users and rail passengers.

Interim safety measures were put in place to improve safety at the crossing in the short term - including the introduction of 40mph speed limits and the installation of safety cameras on the approaches to the crossing.

To make the crossing safer, and to cater more effectively for traffic using the route, a new bridge was constructed over the railway line and the existing single carriageway road was improved to provide two lanes westbound and one line eastbound between Southerham and Beddingham roundabouts. Improvements were also made to the roundabouts and better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians have been provided.
 
In addition to the safety benefits, the scheme has reduced delays for motorists at the crossing and has helped traffic flow more smoothly along the A27.

Alfred McAlpine Project Services (now Carillion plc) with designer Jacobs UK were appointed in June 2005 to undertake the detailed design and construction of the project subject to the outcome of the Public Inquiry. The contract also included the preparation and construction of the A23 Handcross to Warninglid scheme.

Please note that the Targeted Programme of Improvement (TPI) is now known as the Programme of Major Schemes.

Scheme Developments

Following a Public Inquiry in the Autumn of 2005, the Secretaries of State decided in August 2006 that the scheme should go ahead. Work started in October 2006 and the improved road was fully opened to traffic on 22 August 2008.

Progress with building the scheme was described in quarterly newsletters which were circulated in the area and appear on the Publications and Construction Progress Pages of this web site.

Glynde Junction Improvement

Work to improve the access to Glynde Village at the A27 Glynde Junction started on 7 April 2008 and was finished on 31 October 2008. Details of the improvement have been published and are available on the Publications link above.  

One Year After study

This scheme has been reviewed as part of our ongoing programme of Post Opening Project Evaluation (POPE).  The study compares the outturn effects of this scheme to the predicted impacts of the scheme.  
 
A summary of the one year after report is available to download here: A27 Southerham OYA summary (PDF 78.4KB)

The full version of the report is available to download here: A27 Southerham OYA full report (PDF 4.5MB)