Hickstead Interchange

Hickstead junction marks the end of three running lanes since junction 10 on the M23. Southbound lane 1 leaves the A23 and Northbound lane 1 joins from the on-slip. It primarily provides access to the Burgess Hill via the recently (90s) built A2300.

Owing to the junction's unusual history, there is a dedicated bus stop on the slip road, named "Little Chef". This is a hangover from when there were facilities on the A23 itself.

History

Pre 1930

The A23 crosses Hickstead Lane / Jobs Lane at the Hickstead Crossroads.

1980s

It was only in the 80s that the A23 was dualed at Hickstead. This involved realigning the road to the East of the old A23. It was built as a D3 to the north and D2 to the south. The old A23 would become a very long two way slip road due to properties being spaced along it, to the north it is 1.2KM and to the south it is 400 meters. The junction was formed as a dumbbell with A new service station was built on the Eastern side, replacing a former petrol station which demolished as the A23 route went right through it.

1990s

In 1997 a new road was opened, the A2300, this is a direct connection to the new Burgess Hill Ring Road A273. It replaces the arm of the Eastern roundabout that used to go onto Job's Lane. Although a cycleway connected the end of Job's lane to the junction.

2020s

During the Northern Arc housing project there is upgrades to the A2300, this includes an enlarged roundabout on the Eastern side of the dumbbell to support the dualing of the A2300.

Future

As part of the A2300 dualing scheme, it was outline that the Western roundabout would become a tear-drop'd being signalised to provide for a Toucan crossing for the NCN 20, however this didn't happen. It is also outlined in the (draft) Mid Sussex Local Plan (2023-2038) that the Eastern Roundabout could be signalised with a Toucan crossing across the A23-off slip road. As seen in image below.

Despite its close proximity to Bolney Interchange it is likely that it would remain open in the event that the A23 is upgraded to a Motorway, however the western side of the dumbbell would have to be upgraded as well as it is a small roundabout. There have been plans in the past to upgrade the junction to a roundabout interchange, however this action has not yet been warranted.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A23	London, Crawley, Gatwick Airport
A23	Brighton, Hickstead Showground, Sayers Common
A2300	London, Crawley, Gatwick Airport (A23), Ricebridge	A23 northbound on-slip
A2300	Burgess Hill, Goddards Green, Bolney Grange Business Park
	Hickstead Village, Twineham