Night closures for finishing touches to Vogue gyratory

Brighton’s Vogue gyratory system will be shut to southbound traffic for five nights for resurfacing, as part of finishing touches to the current safety improvements.

The council stresses the junction would have needed resurfacing anyway regardless of the government-funded project. 

Night working will take place between Monday December 1 and Friday December 5.  Working between 8pm and 6am should minimise disruption to the locality, says the council.

The authority has written to over 1000 local addresses, informing them of the plans.  It has also been liaising with local businesses, Sainsbury’s, the BP garage, universities and bus companies and will be updating the city on Twitter and its website.

Northbound traffic flows will be maintained throughout.  Southbound traffic heading for the city centre will be diverted up Coldean Lane and down Ditchling Road.  There will be access-only arrangements as far south as Coombe Road.  There will be no access in or out of Hollingdean Road, Bear Road or Upper Lewes Road during the night works.

For the first three nights, there will be no access in or out of the Sainsbury’s car park after 8pm.  However the store will be open as usual until 10pm on each night of the works, with all pedestrian access remaining in place.

The last piece of work on the project will be to set up new traffic lights.  This should happen the week after the resurfacing.  The more efficient signals have involved laying two miles of cabling under the surface.  Shortly after the lights are working, the scheme should become fully operational.

Lead councillor for transport Ian Davey said:  “We apologise again for any disruption.  But when this is finished there will be much easier and safer travel through the area for the majority – those people travelling by bus, bike or on foot.  Car drivers should also find it easier to negotiate.  And there will be better access to businesses there such as Sainsbury’s where bendy buses can pull up for the first time because of the new layout.  It will be good to finally deliver what people have asked for during consultation – a safer, more pleasant Vogue junction.”