B2182

The B2182 follows a roundabout route through the Sussex coastal town of Bexhill. The road was originally unclassified but gained its number in the late 1920s.

Route

The road starts at a roundabout on the A259 in the suburb of Little Common and heads south, initially heading in the opposite direction to the other end of the road. We zigzag through Cooden and eventually go under the coastal railway line just east of Cooden Beach station to reach the sea. There's a sharp left-hand bend at seemingly the last minute and we follow the railway line eastwards, although that is behind the houses on the left. The sea also becomes invisible very quickly as we diverge from the coast at a shallow angle.

Bexhill

By the access road to the next station east, Collington, we TOTSO right into a tree-lined residential road taking us back to the coast. There's a TOTSO left at a T-junction at the end and we continue along the edge of the beach. There's a detour to the left to pass to the landward side of the De La Warr Pavilion (we turn right at a roundabout here), after which the sea becomes far less visible. There's another TOTSO left by the war memorial and we start to head inland.

The road climbs to pass Bexhill station as it passes over the railway line and then there's a brief (and easy-to-miss) multiplex with the A269 as that comes in from the right and shortly leaves on the left (the B2182 has priority at both junctions). There's then a quick zigzag along a short section of the High Street (the original line of the A259 but priorities have now changed) before we continue north on the original line of the A269.

We descend to pass under the A259 relief road and then climb to pass the hospital. It's not long before the end of the road is reached, at a T-junction back on the A269.

History

Cooden Drive

Cooden Drive

The 0.75 mile road from Wickham Avenue to Cooden Sea Lane along the line of the tramway was built to allow residential development but was envisaged as the first part of an arterial coastal road to Eastbourne. It was opened on 11 July 1914 by Madam Dayot during a French and Belgian journalists' visit to the town. Carriageway width was 30 feet with 15 foot footpaths either side to Richmond Road, then 10 foot. Contractor was Stephen Carey, cost £7,415. It was financed by the landowners, The Mayor and Mr Webb, with both the Corporation and the De La Warr Estate contributing £500.

The Coastal Road Scheme

The scheme was brought up in 1926 and 1930 with no success and was then superceded by the Pevensey Levels straightening scheme to improve the inland route of A259 which was completed in 1933.