The Old Steine is in line for a multimillion-pound makeover as part of a scheme that could see the Aquarium roundabout replaced by a T-junction.
Cars would reach Brighton seafront and leave along the eastern side of Old Steine while bus and cycle lanes would run along the western side.
The aim is to link up the changes with a similar realignment of the road for cars, buses and bikes between the Royal Pavilion and St Peter’s Church.
The changes are part of the £20 million Valley Gardens project.
Brighton and Hove City Council said that the aim was “to simplify traffic flows and create an urban park in the central valley through Brighton”.
An alternative to the initial plans has been put forward “to preserve trees and create more green space”.
The principle of the scheme in Valley Gardens – which stretches from St Peter’s to the Aquarium roundabout – was agreed by councillors in early 2013.
The government recently confirmed that £8 million from the Local Growth Fund was available for phases 1 and 2 of the changes – between St Peter’s Church and the Royal Pavilion.
Funding is subject to approval by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). It will decide whether to back the council’s business case next month.
The government has also announced an extra £6 million towards phase 3 of the scheme – between the Royal Pavilion and the Aquarium roundabout.
Again, it is subject to a business case being submitted to and approved by the LEP.
The business cases have to demonstrate that government funding will unlock financial benefits in the local economy.
Transport planners said that the current road arrangement in Valley Gardens was “a confusing mix of gyratories, contraflows and complex junctions”.
The concept scheme approved by councillors was intended to simplify the road network, with two northbound and two southbound lanes for general traffic on the eastern side of the valley.
On the western side, the scheme includes a north and southbound lane for buses and taxis.
Initially, the scheme included two new sections of road to accommodate four lanes of traffic – two in each direction – along the eastern side of the valley.
So there’ll be a 4 lane road driven through the centre of town.
The existing road on the eastern side of the valley will remain for just bus use…
Question… Once the traffic gets to the sea where does it go?
France?
The scheme is a lot better than the current, dreadful anti-pedestrian arrangement. However, I fear the speed or cars on the dual carriageway will create a barrier between Kemp Town and the city. I think the planners should be more ambitious and include a shared space along much of the dual carriageway, this will discourage speeding.