A29 at Pulborough to partially reopen after nearly six months! West Sussex County Council (WSCC) has revealed plans to reopen a single lane on Church Hill, Pulborough, closed since December 2022 due to dangerous landslips.
Temporary One-Lane Fix Coming Soon
The council will install concrete blocks down the middle of the narrow A29 stretch, creating a protected single carriageway. Traffic will flow through again, easing local frustration. Work is set to begin shortly and should take around two weeks.
Landslips Force Road Shutdown at Narrowest Spot
The slip happened at the tightest part of the road, flanked by steep embankments on both sides. For safety, WSCC had no choice but to close the A29 completely. The surrounding land here isn’t council-owned but belongs to private landowners, complicating repairs.
Landowner Standoff Delays Full Reopening
WSCC has been trying to get access to private land to carry out vital engineering work for a full two-way reopening. But talks with landowners have hit a wall. The council has now served a formal notice under Section 151 of the Highways Act 1980, demanding debris removal and works to prevent future landslips.
Council Pleads for Cooperation
Matt Davey, WSCC Director of Highways, said, “We offered to do the works on private land to reopen the road to single-lane traffic. We were hopeful for a deal but sadly that hasn’t happened. We urge the landowners to be pragmatic.”
WSCC initially resisted a one-lane re-opening, hoping for a swift full fix. But with delays dragging on and locals desperate, the temporary single lane is the best option for now.
