English weather blamed for Lyminster bypass delay

Bad weather has been blamed for delays to a £50m bypass in West Sussex which was due to be completed this autumn.

The Lyminster Bypass, north of Littlehampton, is now expected to fully open early next year, West Sussex County Council said.

Frustrated residents said they had already waited "years and years" and were fed up with heavy traffic.

The southbound section of the bypass has already opened, but there is work left to do on the northern carriageway, with temporary traffic lights controlling queues at busy times.

The council said the bypass is designed to reduce traffic, making the area safer and reducing pollution.

The project has been funded with £28m of council money, developer contributions and from the Coast to Capital Growth Hub.

Sarah Metcalfe, who lives nearby, told BBC Radio Sussex talk of a bypass first began 50 years ago when she moved to Lyminster.

“We have been waiting here for years and years and years for this to happen," she said.

"Now they are delaying it again so you can imagine we are pretty disappointed. We are very frustrated.”

Michael Stevenson, who regularly drives through Lyminster, said: “Through the roadworks it is more frustration.

"They have been doing it for a while now and with the delays it is just getting ridiculous.

“We are English. We have bad weather. And then when we do have good weather you do not see anybody.

"That part of the road is used all the time.”

He added he was not optimistic about the works being completed by early next year.

“I will try and avoid it a much as I can, I will even go right out the way if I have to,” he said.

Claire Messenger from Lyminster said the delay was predictable.

“There’s a large amount of extra traffic, commotion, mess, dirt and queuing because of all the roadworks,” she added.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.