Last updated: 9 October 2026 at 1:03pm BST
In short
- The first A27 westbound closure starts at 9pm tonight, Friday 9 October, between Warblington and Bedhampton.
- Langstone Interchange westbound will then close from 6am on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday.
- A second overnight Warblington-to-Bedhampton closure runs from 9pm Sunday to 6am Monday.
- Further westbound overnight and weekend closures continue until Friday 23 October.
- Sussex drivers heading towards Portsmouth or Southampton should allow extra time and use the signed diversion.
A series of A27 Langstone closures begins tonight, disrupting westbound journeys from Sussex towards Portsmouth and Southampton across the weekend and for much of the next fortnight.
The first closure runs from Emsworth’s Warblington junction to Bedhampton between 9pm on Friday 9 October and 6am on Saturday. A longer daytime closure then affects the westbound carriageway through Langstone Interchange from 6am on Saturday 10 October until 9pm on Sunday 11 October.
A27 Langstone closure times
National Highways’ latest schedule lists the following westbound restrictions:
- Friday 9 October: Warblington to Bedhampton, 9pm to 6am.
- Saturday 10 to Sunday 11 October: Langstone Interchange, 6am Saturday to 9pm Sunday.
- Sunday 11 October: Warblington to Bedhampton, 9pm to 6am.
- Monday 12 to Friday 16 October: Langstone Interchange, overnight from 8pm to 6am.
- Saturday 17 to Monday 19 October: Emsworth/Warblington to Langstone, 9pm Saturday to 6am Monday.
- Monday 19 to Friday 23 October: Langstone Interchange, overnight from 8pm to 6am.
The dates were also circulated this week by Chalvington with Ripe Parish Council, reflecting the effect the work may have on longer east–west journeys.
Why this matters for Sussex journeys
Langstone sits on the main A27 coastal route used by drivers travelling west from Brighton, Worthing and Chichester towards Havant, Portsmouth and Southampton. The closure is outside Sussex, but its position means westbound traffic leaving the county can meet delays before reaching the A3(M) and Portsmouth approaches.
The 39-hour interchange closure is the period most likely to affect ordinary weekend travel rather than only late-night journeys. Traffic joining from the A259 or travelling beyond Chichester may also meet heavier local traffic as vehicles divert.
National Highways says the work is required to replace steel parapets, waterproofing and expansion joints on two bridges. Inspections found serious corrosion, worn waterproofing and ageing joints. The work is intended to extend the bridges’ life, improve safety and reduce joint noise for nearby residents.
What drivers should do
- Check the National Highways daily closures page shortly before departure because timings can change.
- Use the official Warblington–Bedhampton diversion map for the longer closure.
- For the interchange-only closure, see the Langstone Interchange diversion map.
- Follow road signs rather than relying solely on a sat-nav, which may route vehicles through unsuitable local roads.
- Build extra time into airport, ferry, hospital and event journeys towards Portsmouth or Southampton.
National Highways can be contacted on 0300 123 5000. Live incidents and last-minute changes are also shown through its travel alerts.
Brighton Locals’ view
The safety work appears necessary: corrosion and ageing bridge joints are problems that should not be deferred. The scheduling, however, creates a real trade-off. A long weekend closure limits repeated overnight disruption but can catch leisure travellers who might not expect major roadworks outside normal working hours.
The official schedule is detailed, yet the changing boundaries between Warblington, Bedhampton and the interchange make it easy to misread. Drivers should plan by date and time, not assume that every closure covers exactly the same stretch.
What to watch next
The key issue is whether the weekend work finishes at 9pm on Sunday as planned. National Highways warns that closures can change at short notice, so the live closure report remains the final check before travel. Further overnight restrictions continue into the week, followed by another full westbound weekend closure from 17 October.
Bottom line
If you are driving west from Sussex this weekend, the A27 at Langstone is the pinch point to plan around. Check the live status, allow extra time and follow the signed diversion.
Image: The A27 at Bedhampton, at the western end of the affected corridor. Archive photograph by Peter Trimming via Geograph and Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0.
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