A £32 million programme of investment in highways and transport has been agreed by West Sussex County Council, including what it calls an unprecedented level of investment in road and footway repairs.

It has also agreed a further £21 million of capital funding, over the next five years, for priority areas such as Carriageway improvements and repairs, footway/pavement improvements, road safety improvements and schemes to tackle flood issues.

Joy Dennis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said, “Residents care deeply about the condition of the county’s highway: this level of funding – an extra £21million over the next five years – shows the County Council agrees with them and sees this as a priority area for improvement and investment.

“The programme of works that starts in a few weeks’ time is extensive. The Highways, Transport and Planning Delivery Programme comprises more than 650 individual schemes and includes road and pavement maintenance and improvement, plus work to improve road safety, bridges, drainage and public rights of way.”

Carbon reduction initiatives feature in the programme for this year’s footway and carriageway resurfacing schemes.

Ms Dennis added, “Our officers continue to collaborate with contractors to explore the use of the latest technology to try to cut carbon emissions in our highways work.

“This includes allowing resurfacing materials to be mixed at much lower temperatures than conventional asphalt and using recycled material from our roads, which can significantly cut the carbon emissions attributed to a scheme, without impacting on quality.”

(Picture – West Sussex Council)