The Government has approved 16 local road schemes that had been stalled under previous administrations, giving the go-ahead for improvements to Sussex’s congested coastal route. The £27 billion five-year roads investment strategy includes upgrades to the A259 South Coast Corridor in Sussex under the third Road Investment Strategy covering 2026 to 2031.

This highway passes through Sussex’s worst traffic bottlenecks, connecting the Hampshire border to the Kent coast and serving Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Brighton, Newhaven, Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings. The schemes aim to ease congestion, improve reliability and support coastal economies.

Among the approved projects is the A259 Bognor Regis to Littlehampton Enhancement, which will upgrade key junctions in West Sussex including Comet Corner. Brighton’s seafront is also included, with the A259 King’s Road Highway Structures Renewal Programme set to rebuild arches and retaining walls supporting the upper promenade.

Alexander stated the £27 billion strategy represents one of the largest investments ever made into England’s major roads, though the focus is primarily on repairs and renewals rather than new construction. Around £8.4 billion will be spent on maintenance and renewals nationwide, after consultations found clear backing for prioritising the upkeep of existing assets over building new roads.

Several large schemes elsewhere in England have been dropped, including A1 improvements between Doncaster and Darrington and the M1 Leeds Eastern Gateway upgrade.

The Sussex announcement follows a separate £31 million transport package agreed by East Sussex County Council for 2026-27, which includes a bus priority scheme along the A259 in Newhaven.

Sam Richards, chief executive of the Britain Remade campaign group, described the approach as managed decline and warned that cutting the road-building programme sends a signal that Britain is no longer serious about delivering the road infrastructure needed for a modern, growing economy.