Parts of the A27 could be turned into a mini-motorway under new Government plans.

The scheme would see roundabouts and traffic lights replaced with slip lanes for getting on and off the A road.

Emergency refuge areas could also be built and technology installed to quickly detect hold-ups.

The carriageway has been reportedly earmarked for an upgrade into an “expressway” under plans expected to be announced for 18 A-roads across the country.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency, which becomes Highways England from April 1, told The Argus any such upgrades would be tied into schemes already announced for the A27.

The agency has said expressways would “play an important role in supporting the economy” and that they would mirror the journey experience on a motorway.

The news comes after the Government pledged £350 million to improve congestion along the road in December last year.

Its targeted areas include a new bypass at Arundel and work to the existing bypass south of Chichester (both allotted between £100 million and £250 million) along with improvements around Worthing and Lancing costing between £50 million and £100 million.

The new expressways, the Government has said, will revolutionise our roads.

The new infrastructure coupled with advanced technology will provide “mile a minute” travel.

The latest development follows months of intense lobbying by the A27 Action Group comprising politicians and business figures.

But the Sussex benefits could be lop-sided after, as reported in The Argus on March 14, a Department for Transport feasibility study gave the West proposals the thumbs-up while on the East side it found that plans for the road beyond Lewes fell short on strategic fit and value for money.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said it made sense to transform “key strategic corridors” not served by motorways into expressways.

But the plans have been criticised by environment groups who argue the money should instead be spent on more sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternatives.

Chris Todd, roads campaigner at the Campaign for Better Transport and a member of Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth, said it was a move “back to the 1980s”.

He said: “There are far better ways the money could be spent.

“You have got to look at moving people off of the roads and getting them on to walking, cycling using public transport.

However they need to be given the infrastructure to do that.

“That’s not to say you can’t improve the A27 but this isn’t looking at the real issue.”