The long-anticipated Bexhill to Hastings link road moved a step closer this week after county council chiefs chose the firm responsible for building the £100million project.
East Sussex County Council this week chose a joint bid from firms Hohtief and Vinci and the two companies will now work together to design and ultimately build the controversial road.
When completed it will be a 5.6km single-carriageway road betw
een the A259 in Bexhill and the B2092 Queensway in Hastings. The scheme will link the outskirts of Bexhill and Hastings, providing access to areas that have been identified for regeneration in addition to easing congestion and improving air quality on the A259 at Glyne Gap.
Work is due to start on site in the summer of 2010 with the road expected to be open to traffic by the end of 2012.
Council bosses say the scheme has been carefully designed to avoid the more significant environmentally sensitive areas.
However, anti-road lobbyists have fought a long-running battle against the plans claiming it is not only damaging to the local environment, but also running at a hugely inflated cost.
Councillor Matthew Lock, said: "The link road is essential for the future regeneration of Hastings and Bexhill. It'll bring real benefits to the two towns, including better access to jobs; fewer cars using roads that aren't suitable for them; opportunities for housing and business development; access to education and a reduction in the number of accidents on local roads."
For more information about link road visit www.eastsussex.gov.uk/linkroad.
