Chichester

Chichester is a small cathedral city in western Sussex.

The A27 runs East to West and used to run through the city prior to 1940, when the city was bypassed to the South. It was later fully widened to a dual carriageway and has many at-grade roundabouts and junctions and is often heavily congested. There are plans to improve these junctions or provide a new bypass to the North of the city. The A286 Runs North to South and used to run through the city prior to 1970, when an inner-ring road was built and the city centre pedestrianised. The A259 also passes through the city, it used to be the Western terminus, however since the A27 was realigned to the west, the A259 takes its old route. Other classified roads also run through the city.

Two National Cycle routes pass through the city, these being the NCN2 and RCN88.

History

The bypass

The 3.84 mile road from Main Road, Fishbourne to Stane Street, Westhampnett opened on 11 May 1940 without ceremony. Work had commenced in July 1938. Just over a mile of the dual carriageway was finished, the remainder being left as single carriageway due to war time measures. Works were suspended and footpaths and cycle tracks were also unconstructed, apart from at junctions. Overall width was 100 feet with 22 foot carriageways. Cost to date was £110,000 of the £203,500 scheme cost. The eastern 0.3 mile north of Portfield Way later became unclassified.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A27	Portsmouth, Havant
A27	Worthing, Brighton, Tangmere
A259	Bognor Regis
A259	Bosham, Fishbourne
A285	Petworth, Guildford, Westhampnett, Halnaker
A286	Birdham, Wittering
A286	Midhurst, Lavant
B2141	Petersfield, Hartling, Chilgrove	via A286
B2145	Hunston, Sidlesham, Selsey
B2166	N. & S. Mundham, Runcton, Pagham, Bognor Regis
B2178	Funtington, E. Ashling
B2201	Selsey, Sidlesham (B2145), Donnington Village