Work to improve safety at Brighton’s Vogue Gyratory to start next month

Work to make Brighton’s Vogue Gyratory safer will start next month – and take until December to complete.

Brighton and Hove City Council said it will aim to keep delays to the minimum as its contractors make changes to the junction near the Sainsbury’s in Lewes Road.

The work is part of the multimillion pound project to encourage more people to use sustainable transport in the Lewes Road corridor, which has already seen the creation of a bus and cycle lane on the dual carriageway.

Ian Davey, the authority’s lead councillor for transport, said: “We apologise in advance for any disruption during these important works.

“We’re going to try really hard to minimise delays – particularly during the rush hours. But improvements to this junction are long overdue and it’s vital that we do what we can to stop collisions, prevent people getting injured, speed bus journeys and make it more pleasant and safe for cyclists and pedestrians.

“Seven Dials has proved that changes to a junction can be popular and help create more pleasant areas.

“Improvements to Lewes Road have already brought a big jump in bus travel and cycling. This project will get even more people using sustainable transport.”

The council said proposed works are intended to simplify the junction to make it less confusing.

Traffic signals will be replaced to improve traffic flow and enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. There will be a two-metre wide cycle lane going north, running inside a ‘floating’ bus stop which will accommodate bendy buses for the first time. There is already a cycle lane going south.

Clearer markings for all road users and a new surface are also promised.

The council’s transport team said starting the work in the summer holidays would create less congestion as there will be fewer students and less people commuting to work.

It added Upper Lewes Road will be closed from the gyratory from mid August while northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane at some times.

Few significant closures of the southbound lanes are expected, the council claimed.

A spokesman added it was writing to hundreds of homes and businesses in the area about the plans with the council keen to ensure that access to buildings was maintained at all times.