An MP dubbed the A27 Brighton bypass ‘a safety risk’ last night after another crash caused three miles of tailbacks during rush-hour.

The Southwick Tunnel was closed westbound for more than three hours yesterday morning after two cars collided, with one of the vehicles ending up on its roof.

Tim Loughton, the MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, and Neil Parkin, leader of Adur Council, have requested a meeting with local Highways Agency manager Peter Phillips, saying eight crashes happened next to the tunnel last year.


MORE:


Mr Loughton said: “There is clearly something wrong with this section of the A27- which poses a safety risk to motorists.

“I have discussed this with Neil Parkin, who is also concerned about the frequency with which serious accidents have been happening lately.

“There has been a extraordinary amount of incidents near the tunnel over the last few years so I want to meet Peter Phillips and discuss whether any research has been carried out to ascertain if there are common causes such as speed, poor visibility coming round the bend on the approach to the tunnel etc, and what measures could be introduced to reduce the chance of them occur ring in the future.

“Clearly the most important consideration is that this has caused injuries and in some cases fatalities but also significant traffic disruption every time it happens.

Yesterday’s crash happened just after 7am. A 44-year old Brighton woman driving the Vauxhall Astra which turned over, and a 51-year old Bexhill man driving an Audi A4 were taken to Worthing Hospital for treatment.

The Vauxhall Astra overturned in the crash and the road closure caused major delays as commuters desperately tried to find alternative routes.

The crashed happened just after 7am and the road closure remained in place until 9.30am.

Both people involved in the crash left the hospital later in the morning. The man suffered a broken wrist and cuts and bruises and the woman was also found to have suffered cuts and bruises.

Last July a 79-year-old suffered serious injuries when a lorry collided with a car and crashed through the central reservation.

Drivers were stuck for hours in massive traffic jams with the Southwick tunnel shut and shoppers were trapped in Tesco at the Holmbush Centre, Shoreham unable to leave the car park.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "Safety is a top priority for the Highways Agency. Our roads are amongst the safest in the world and we regularly review the safety on the A27.

“We continue to work with partners, including the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, to further improve safety on the A27.”

She said among improvements last year was work on the approach to the A27 near Holmbush.

Anyone who saw what happened yesterday morning is asked to contact Sussex Police via 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 0112 of 15/1.