Opening date for 'major' new road announced

The opening date of a "major" new road in East Sussex has been confirmed by the county council.

The Queensway Gateway Road, which will connect the A21 Sedlescombe Road North and Queensway in Hastings, is due to open on 31 August.

It was originally due to be completed in 2016, but the final section of the road was delayed by an unsuccessful judicial review.

Keith Glazier, the council's leader, said: "We appreciate that work on this major project has caused disruption to road users and apologise for any delays, but we hope they will soon be reaping the significant benefits the new road will bring."

Helena Dollimore, the MP for Hastings and Rye, told the House of Commons in December that local residents called the project the "road to nowhere" because "it has been left unfinished for over a decade".

The local authority said at the time that work on site had been delayed "due to significant remedial works" and a burst water main.

The road is part of an East Sussex County Council project to improve traffic flow and transport links between Bexhill and Hastings.

The project includes the permanent closure of Junction Road and the creation of a public right of way and cycle path.

Major improvements to the A21 Sedlescombe Road North, which include the installation of new traffic signals, are also part of the project.

A period of monitoring will follow the opening of the road to ensure traffic is flowing smoothly.

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