Vital bridge work to take place on busy Eastbourne route

ESSENTIAL work is being carried out in Eastbourne to ensure a bridge over a railway line can continue to be used safely.

Speed restrictions and two overnight closure will be needed to carry out the work on Shinewater Bridge on the Golden Jubilee Way. Work is due to start on Thursday, March 26, and is expected to take around 10 months to complete.

The project involves replacing bridge bearings and joints — vital components that allow the structure to move safely as temperatures change and traffic passes over it. These have reached the end of their intended service life and are being replaced as part of a proactive maintenance programme.

An East Sussex Highways spokesperson said: “Replacing the bearings and joints will help protect the structure, reduce the risk of future disruption, and ensure the bridge remains safe for all users.

“The work has been carefully planned to minimise disruption, particularly given the bridge’s location over the railway and on the A22 into Eastbourne.  The majority of work will be carried out from underneath the structure with the road staying open to traffic.”

Traffic management measures include overnight road closures on Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27, and a speed limit reduction in place from the end of March until January 2027. Abnormal loads weighing over the standard 44 tonne limit will be diverted during the work.

Additional short-term closures will be required later in the year to allow the bridge to be raised and lowered safely, along with lane closures for the replacement of joints.

More information and updates on the work can be found at https://live.eastsussexhighways.com/highway-schemes/shinewater-bridge-a22-golden-jubilee-way-eastbourne-1

Ends.

Karen Bowles

Friday, 13 March 2026