The new road will link up with the recently-constructed southern section of the bypass , built by Breheny, to complete a new, 1.1-mile carriageway running to the east of Lyminster and Wick villages.

As far as possible, the new carriageway – which will have verge on one side and a footway/cycleway on the other – will be constructed off-line from the existing highway network to minimise disruption for road users.

It will provide much-needed improvements to routes in and out of Littlehampton and support plans for 1,260 new homes.

Joy Dennis, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “Initial, enabling works, such as vegetation clearance, had already been completed, but now the main construction phase has started. This is very positive news.”

The scheme is being funded by Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund, developer contributions (Section 106 funds), the Department for Transport and the County Council.