'Chaos' concern as traffic lights return to A21

Temporary traffic lights have returned to a road in Hastings as the final phase of a major highway improvement scheme continues at pace.

East Sussex Highways has been working with Balfour Beatty Living Places since last September to carry out works to connect Queensway Gateway to the A21 Sedlescombe Road North.

This work forms part of the Queensway Gateway Project which is expected to be completed this summer. It was originally due to be finished by 2016.

East Sussex Highways has confirmed that traffic lights will remain in place on the A21 until the final stage of the junction improvement work is complete.

A spokesperson said: "The temporary lights will cover half the distance as they did previously, from The Ridge flyover to the southern side of Junction Road. This should reduce the amount of queuing."

John Bownas, manager of Love Hastings, said: "The real worry is that, what we're looking at here, is chaos being caused by two-way traffic lights.

"What's coming in to us is three-way traffic lights, and the real concern from people is that that's going to slow down traffic even more."

The East Sussex Highways spokesperson said that everything is being done to "minimise the disruption and complete the work as quickly as possible".

During the final phase of work, 3,000 cubic metres of earth will be removed from an embankment, a water main will be relocated, and work will be carried out on the northern filter lane and signalised junction.

Once complete, the road - which will connect Queensway with the A21 in northern Hastings/St Leonards - is expected to improve traffic flow between Bexhill and Hastings.

Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore has been critical of the delays to this project, telling House of Commons in December that residents refer to it as the "road to nowhere".

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