Seven Dials, one repair, three days early

Works to fix Brighton’s busy Seven Dials roundabout have been progressing well – and look like finishing earlier than predicted.

Works to repair crumbing kerbstones and resurface the roundabout were due to finish on Friday 7 October.  But now they are set to complete by next Tuesday morning - 4 October.

This will entail the roundabout being entirely closed overnight on Monday 3 October into 4 October.  All entrances and exits to the roundabout will be shut from 7.30pm on Monday night until an estimated 6am Tuesday morning.

As part of its commitment to keeping locals informed, nearby addresses were sent a letter detailing the schedule of repair works on 6 September.

More letters are going to nearby premises today (Thursday 29 September) warning of the night closures.   

It is intended that suppliers will foot the repair bill, not the council.

Deputy chair of the council's environment committee Cllr Saoirse Horan said: “Thanks to everyone for bearing with us.  We apologise again for the disruption.  We never look forward to setting up roadworks but there was no avoiding this if we were to stop the roundabout disintegrating.”

The project was essential because a low kerb encircling the roundabout had started to break up.  This was happening because it stood above the level of the road surface and was being frequently struck by vehicles. Recent works involved lowering the kerb flush with the tarmac and resurfacing the whole roundabout.

The junction was radically altered in 2013, to make it less dangerous while improving the environment and streetscape of Seven Dials village.  The previous chaotic mini-roundabout was replaced with a longer, oval traffic island.  This sought to integrate traffic more gradually instead of vehicles converging on a central point.

Crumbling kerbstones at Seven Dials caused roadworks