Plans for two-way bridge at 'pinch point' in doubt

Plans to build a two-way crossing to replace a single-lane, 1870s bridge described as a traffic "pinch point" are set to be scrapped by a county council.

The Exceat Bridge, which spans the Cuckmere River on the A259, is described by East Sussex County Council as a key corridor between Eastbourne and Brighton.

The council's cabinet will decide the future of the bridge at meeting on 4 March, saying the current estimate of £21m to build a two lane bridge is "no longer viable under the current financial position of the council".

Unavoidable delays and planning requirements sent costs for a new two-lane bridge "spiralling", according to the council.

Lisa Payne uses the bridge both in a car and on the bus.

She told BBC Radio Sussex: "There's always a queue when we get there, and when we go over on the bus you have to wait for quite a considerable time.

"It does hold up the traffic quite a lot. But also from a pedestrian point of view, the very narrow bridge and the very narrow pavements make it quite risky for people trying to cross the bridge."

She said she thought traffic flowing in both directions over the bridge could make it "a lot quicker".

Seaford resident Gerry Brown, said he thought the potential £21m cost was a "ridiculous sum of money", but acknowledged there were issues at the bridge.

"It doesn't matter what time of day you go, there always seems to be some sort of congestion," he added.

Meeting documents said an average 11,500 cars cross the bridge each day, with morning and evening peaks of nearly 1,000 vehicles per hour and that it had "historically been a pinch point between Seaford and Eastbourne".

As well as commuters and residents, it is used by visitors to Seven Sisters Country Park, Beachy Head and Birling Gap on the East Sussex coast.

The council was awarded £7.9m of Levelling Up Funding in 2021 for the bridge, then estimated to cost £10.5m.

In 2017, the new bridge had a £2m estimated price tag.

A one-lane replacement bridge with permanent traffic lights is the recommended option out of a possible three for councillors to consider.

The council has spent £4.6m on the project so far, including on legal fees, land acquisition and compensation costs, and on design and planning costs.

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