Last updated: 6 October 2026 at 20:40 BST
In short
- Southern Water says the A280 Long Furlong will remain partially closed until the end of this week after a leaking air valve was found during repair work.
- The latest operator update was issued at 10:58am on Tuesday 6 October.
- There is currently no reported impact on customers’ water supplies.
- Residents can reach homes via Patching, while other drivers should follow the signed diversion and avoid unsuitable local shortcuts.
- Earlier local notices named 8 or 9 October, so motorists should check the live incident page before travelling.
The A280 Long Furlong closure near Clapham and Findon is continuing after engineers discovered a leaking air valve while repairing a burst water main.
In its latest update on Tuesday 6 October, Southern Water said Long Furlong would need to remain partially closed until the end of the week. The company said its teams remained on site and that water supplies were not being affected.
What has happened on Long Furlong
The incident began on Thursday 1 October. Southern Water closed the A280 near the Clapham interchange so crews could repair a burst main safely. A replacement section of pipe was installed early on 3 October, but further work uncovered a leaking air valve that also required excavation and replacement.
That additional fault delayed the job. Southern Water’s latest notice says the road will remain partially closed while repairs are completed, rather than giving a precise reopening time.
There is a small but important difference between current public notices. Patching Parish Council says the closure is expected to remain in place until Thursday 8 October. Lime Tree Surgery warns patients of disruption until Friday 9 October. Southern Water’s newer update simply says “until the end of this week”.
Drivers should therefore treat 8 and 9 October as planning dates, not guaranteed reopening times, and check the operator’s live page before setting out.
Why the A280 Long Furlong closure matters
Long Furlong is a key link between the A27 at Clapham and the A24 at Findon. Disruption can push traffic towards smaller roads in Patching and Clapham and increase pressure on the A24 and Findon Road.
Southern Water says commuting traffic has already caused congestion in the two villages. It has placed “Access for Residents Only” signs on the A27 approach to Arundel Road to discourage drivers from using local roads as a shortcut.
The operator says residents can still reach their homes via Patching. Other motorists should follow the signed diversion around the Clapham interchange rather than relying on sat-nav suggestions through narrow village roads.
Lime Tree Surgery has separately advised patients travelling to its Findon practice to leave extra time, especially during the morning and late afternoon peaks.
What drivers should do
- Check Southern Water’s live incident update immediately before travelling.
- Use the official one.network roadworks notice to check the closure area and current traffic management.
- Follow the signed diversion and do not use France Lane or other small roads as an unofficial bypass.
- Allow extra time if travelling between Worthing, Findon, Storrington, Arundel and the A27.
- If attending an appointment in Findon, contact the service directly if the delay may make you late.
Brighton Locals’ view
Our assessment: keeping part of the road closed is justified if that is what engineers need to complete the repair safely. The weak point is the public information. Three descriptions — 8 October, 9 October and “the end of the week” — leave drivers guessing about when normal access will return.
Southern Water should replace those overlapping estimates with one clear status: which section is closed, whether vehicles can pass in either direction, and the earliest realistic time for full reopening. Until then, planning for disruption through Friday is the sensible choice.
What to watch next
The next meaningful update will be confirmation that the replacement valve has been installed, the main has been tested and Long Furlong has reopened fully. A repair completion notice should also clarify whether any traffic restrictions will remain while the excavation is reinstated.
Brighton Locals will update this page if Southern Water or the highway authority publishes a confirmed reopening time.
Bottom line
The burst main has been repaired, but a second fault means the A280 Long Furlong disruption is not over. Water supplies remain unaffected, while drivers should expect delays and follow the signed diversion until a full reopening is confirmed.
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