Hot weather and road conditions

Did you know that gritters aren’t just for winter?

Long periods of hot weather, with air temperatures of 30-35°c, can cause the road surface temperatures to reach 55°c. This can lead to the road surface softening and becoming sticky. To protect the roads in this heat our gritters are used to spread granite dust.

It is only used when necessary and our highways teams have been closely monitoring conditions.

So far we have:

• Treated 115 sites across the network
• Used one gritter vehicle
• Spread approximately 70 tonnes of granite dust.

We encourage everyone to take extra care when travelling during hot weather.

Home to school transport

With the end of the 2025/2026 school year and thoughts moving on to 2026/2027 you may be waiting for information regarding school transport. Please be aware that you may not hear from the team until the end of August.

If you have transport eligibility through an EHCP, make sure you have received and have filled in a health and safety questionnaire. If you have done this, you can be assured your case is part of the summer planning consideration.

If you are receiving transport through other eligibility such as distance or another reason, this will likely be arranged quicker and if you have not heard anything after two weeks of becoming or being told you are eligible, do please check in to see what the progress is.

We understand that it is uncomfortable to wait, we recommend that parents/carers always be prepared to organise alternative arrangements for the start of September until your transport has been arranged and confirmed by the team.

Decarbonising West Sussex roads

Warm mix asphalt is used as standard material for road resurfacing where it is suitable. This type of asphalt is produced and laid at temperatures around 50°C lower than traditional asphalt, helping to reduce carbon emissions by around 10–15%. It also cools more quickly, allowing roads to reopen sooner and helping to minimise disruption.

We are also increasing the use of recycled materials where appropriate. This includes using asphalt containing up to 30% recycled material in surface layers on roads with a 30mph speed limit, and up to 50% recycled material in road base layers.

At present, only a small number of asphalt plants produce these recycled mixtures, which limits the number of sites where they can be used. However, where suitable, these materials help reduce waste, lower emissions and support our commitment to more sustainable highways maintenance, while continuing to provide a durable road surface for residents and road users.

Road safety improvements – Littlehampton Road / Lindum Road, Worthing

From 6 July to 14 August 2026, we will be carrying out road safety improvements at this junction.

This location has been identified through collision analysis as an area of concern, with recurring conflicts between turning vehicles and filtering motorcycles, especially during peak periods. These changes will improve visibility, positioning and predictability for all road users.

Between 2020 and 2023, there were five collisions which resulted in injury, including three serious incidents, with motorcycles and cyclists most often affected.

Improvements include:

• Junction layout changes to reduce corner-cutting
• A new pedestrian refuge island
• Central hatched markings and lane guidance
• A traffic island with a ‘keep left’ feature
• Localised carriageway repairs

These measures will support safer road user behaviour and improve safety for everyone.

For further information about this scheme, please refer to the following FAQ document: https://one.network/?GB148653496

Major junction upgrade set to transform safety and travel in Horsham

Residents, businesses and commuters in Horsham are being advised of upcoming roadworks to modernise a key junction on North Parade. The project is set to bring long-term improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers across Horsham. 

From 20 July to 11 September 2026, works will take place at the junction of North Parade, West Parade, Hurst Road and Wimblehurst Road to refurbish the existing signal-controlled junction and deliver significant safety and sustainability upgrades. 

The works combine essential maintenance with new safety improvements, a decision that avoids the need for further disruption in the future.

Highway improvement works

Carriageway and footway works

We are undertaking surface treatments across the county, with the projects below representing some of the key works scheduled for the coming weeks.

You can read more about what happens during each of the road and footway surface treatments here - Maintaining roads, verges and pavements - West Sussex County Council

Further information on each of the works can also be found via one.network.

Bus service improvement works

Cuckfield Road, Staplefield – 20 to 31 July

West Sussex County Council will be upgrading the bus stop on Cuckfield Road, the works aim to improve accessibility, reduce bus journey times, and increase overall user quality.

The works will include:

• Construction of a bus stop landing pad/hardstanding area to improve access for passengers boarding and exiting buses
• Installation of new bus stop posts and information signs
• Installation of a new highway gully

The scheme started on 20 July and will run through till 31 July, with work taking place between 7:30am till 5:30pm. Multi way traffic lights will be in place for the duration, so please allow extra time for your journey, apologies for any inconvenience caused.

You can view further details at: https://one.network/?GB150702944.

LED conversion project – progress update

We are upgrading street lighting across West Sussex by replacing all remaining West Sussex County Council owned streetlights that are not yet LED. This includes approximately 65,250 lanterns.

The first stage of the LED street light upgrade began as planned on 9 March. Since then, 6,498 street lights have been converted to energy-efficient LED units and connected to a new Central Monitoring System, which helps manage and monitor the network more effectively.

The completed areas are expected to cut annual energy use by around 658,823 kWh – this is equivalent to:

The project progress will also reduce our annual carbon emissions by 121.46 tonnes – this is equivalent to:

Work continues across Crawley to deliver the remining 20% of lights in Delivery Area 1, while Delivery Area 2 remains on track to start in September 2026.

You can read more about the project here - LED Conversion Project | Your Voice West Sussex.

Utility projects update

Gas works

Chichester Road, Bersted, Bognor Regis

The existing gas pipes in this area were originally installed in the 1940s and are now deteriorating rapidly. These essential upgrades are being carried out to ensure long-term safety, maintain a reliable gas supply to the community, and prevent further leaks.

Due to the location of the gas pipes in the road, for everyone’s safety the replacement works will be done under road closure in three phases as follows:

Phase one: from 1 to 22 June 2026 (completed)

Phase two: from 22 June to 21 August 2026

To help ensure access arrangements are clear during phase two, we have broken this phase into four sections as follows:

Phase three: from 24 August to 25 September 2026  

Road closure on Chichester Road from the junction of Fairlands to North Bersted Street.

Businesses will open as usual and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Market Avenue and Basin Road, Chichester

Following several gas leaks linked to the condition of the ageing gas main on Market Avenue and Basin Road, SGN undertook trial holes in late April to assess the requirements for a full mains replacement. This work is urgently necessary to ensure a safe and reliable gas supply to the community and to prevent further leaks.

WS Highways arranged for SGN works to be done early to avoid delaying road resurfacing and to prevent the new road from being dug up again. At the same time, Southern Water will carry out sewer lining works on Canal Wharf during the road closure. Please see the work programme below:

A24 Findon Road, Worthing

SGN continues to make good progress with the replacement of the ageing gas main on the A24 Findon Road in Worthing, with works currently remaining on schedule. These works are taking place in phases under multi-way traffic lights. Please see the work programme below:

Phase 1 - A24 Findon Road junction with Mayfield Close - from 13 to 25 July 2026 (complete)

Phase 2 - A24 Findon Road junction with Hillview Rise - 20 to 30 July 2026

Phase 3 - A24 Findon Road junction with Marshall Avenue - 27 July to 16 August

These works will have impact on bus timetables. Please check your local bus service provider for routes and timetable.

A259 Brighton Road, Park Road, Worthing

From 27 July 2026, SGN will be carrying out gas main replacement works along Park Road, together with connection works to the gas main on Brighton Road.

Park Road (between the junctions of Lyndhurst Road and Brighton Road/A259):

Due to the location of the gas pipes and the width of the road, a road closure will be required from 27 July to 16 October 2026 to ensure the safety of the workforce and the public. On-street parking will be suspended for the duration of the works; however, vehicle access to off-road parking for the flats will be maintained.

A259 Brighton Road at the junction with Park Road:

Temporary two-way traffic signals will be in operation from 16 September to 2 October 2026 to facilitate connection works to the gas main.

These works may have impact on bus timetables. Please check your local bus service provider for routes and timetable.

If you need further information about these works, you can contact SGN Customer Service Team by email Customer@sgn.co.uk or alternatively you can call them on 0800 912 1700. For travel and route diversion, please follow Causeway one.network.

Electrical upgrades

Manor Royal, Crawley

UKPN will be installing a new underground cable within the public highway at Manor Royal, Crawley. Please see the work programme below:

• 11 to 22 May, Manor Royal (completed)
• 1 June to 17 June, London Road/Junction of Martyrs Avenue (completed)
• 10 August to 3 September, Martyrs Avenue, Junction with Garage Access Road: A full Road closure on Martyrs Avenue will be required from 10 to 20 August.

If you have any questions, please contact UKPN customer care team on 0800 028 4587 Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5pm, care@ukpowernetworks.co.uk and reference 260010910.

Water infrastructure upgrades

Bull Hill, Rake

Due to a number of leaks and burst water mains in and around the Rake area, South East Water and its contractor, Clancy, will be replacing approximately 1.15 kilometres of water pipework from 27 July 2026. The work is expected to take around 6 months to complete.

The project will take place along London Road, Bull Hill and Canhouse Lane. To facilitate the works, a phased road closure will be introduced, starting at the Bull Hill junction with London Road and progressing towards Canhouse Lane as the works advance.

In addition, multi-way traffic signals will be in operation at the junction of London Road and Bull Hill from 27 July to 9 August 2026.

Find out more and sign up at Priority Services | South East Water . If you have any questions or concerns before the work starts, please call our advisors on 0333 000 0018 (Monday to Friday 8:00am to 5:30pm) or via email @ Wholesale Contact Us | South East Water.

Keep up to date 📱💻

Facebook, X, Bluesky & WhatsApp

Updates on emergency reports are posted every day and project updates are posted frequently on the West Sussex Highways Facebook @West Sussex Highways, X @WSHighways, and Bluesky @wshighways.bsky.social accounts.

Did you know you can get gritter alerts, grass-cutting updates and up-to-date information on road issues on WhatsApp? You can follow silently or opt for alerts to notify you when we share an update. To find us open WhatsApp and select "Updates" from the bottom menu, then simply search for WSHighways or click the link - WSHighways.

Produced by the Customer Communications Officer, Highways Transport and Planning. Please contact active.communities@westsussex.gov.uk with any comments or suggestions for future articles.