A259 in Brighton will stay closed for at least two more days

Brighton and Hove City Council has issued an update on the A259 Kings Road closure, which has led to traffic delays in the city since Friday evening.

A structural report revealed that the Royal Albion Hotel, which was gutted by a fire in July 2023, was at risk of “catastrophic failure”.

The council implemented a road closure between East Street and the aquarium roundabout in both directions to ensure public safety while Britannia Hotels, who own the building, made the structure safe.

The road will remain closed “for at least the next couple of days”, the council said, and Britannia has been instructed to add more road signs to reduce traffic.

Traffic in Queens Road over the weekend (Image: The Argus) Councillor Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport, parking and public realm said: “The A259 Kings Road remains closed between Aquarium roundabout and East Street in both directions to traffic and will be so for at least the next couple of days.

“The pavement and cycle lanes to the south of the road remain open.

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“Our priority remains the safety of the public, but we recognise and apologise for the inconvenience and delays the closure is causing. We thank people for their continued patience.

“We’re doing everything we can to support Britannia Hotels and their contractor to get this work done quickly so we can reopen the road as soon as possible.

The road closure has been put in place due to a risk to safety (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) “We have also asked them to add additional signage to reduce traffic leading up to the road closure.

“We continue to stress to Britannia Hotels the urgency of the situation.

READ MORE: Calls for action almost two years on from devastating hotel blaze

“The council is speaking regularly with organisers of the Brighton Half Marathon to keep them updated.”

The A259 Kings Road is on the route for the Brighton Half Marathon, which is taking place next weekend. 

Traffic has plagued the city centre over the weekend, with West Street, Queens Road, Church Street, North Street, Old Steine and Grand Parade suffering the brunt of the congestion.

Britannia Hotels has been approached for comment.