Motorists are facing long delays as a four-mile section of a busy road used by 30,000 drivers a day is shut for works.

The Highways Agency revealed yesterday that maintenance of the Southwick Hill Tunnel during the next 12 months will result in the A27 being closed on some evenings between the Holmbush Interchange and the Hangleton Link Road.

The plans were criticised by Hangleton councillors who predict traffic jams and rat-running through residential streets.

But the agency said it was doing everything to ensure that residents and drivers will not face disruption.

The road will be closed from 8pm to 7am on Friday and Saturday nights once a month for a year from April 1.

Diverted traffic will run via Old Shoreham Road and along the Hangleton Link Road.

The route will take in two major superstores at The Holmbush Centre and Sainsbury's, off Hangleton Link Road.

Dawn Barnett, Conservative councillor for Hangleton, is concerned the decision will lead to lorries tearing though her ward.

She said: "It is going to be horrendous - we have got a lot of people coming along the A27, especially in summer with people going on holiday.

"There is nothing we can do but I am not looking forward to it."

Brian Fitch, Labour councillor for Hangleton, said he was concerned about rat-running through residential streets.

He said: "I am not very happy as it will increase traffic through Hangleton and there will be a lot disturbance to residents.

"I hope the Highways Agency will be taking every measure to ensure that traffic runs smoothly.

"I will be asking them to look at stopping rat-running through the area."

A spokeswoman for the Highways Agency said that diversion signs will be in place to stop rat-running.

She said: "We have been carrying out routine safety work on the tunnel since 1995 and we have an agreement with the council to implement this diversion route.

"There is no specific safety issue and it is just routine maintenance.

"This is the best time to do it in terms of traffic and the number of HGVs and we will be keeping disruption to a minimum."

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