Plans for a new two-lane bridge across the Cuckmere are on the verge of being scrapped after costs soared.
The single-lane Exceat Bridge on the A259 by the Cuckmere Inn is due to be replaced.
But East Sussex County Council says the cost of putting a new two-lane bridge north of the existing one has more than doubled from the original budget of £10.5 million to £21.4 million.
It is now proposing either refurbishing the existing bridge or rebuilding it in the same location.
The former would probably mean the council would have to pay back an £8 million government grant for a new bridge. Both would involve closing the A259 for several months.
A decision on which option to take will be made by the council’s cabinet next Tuesday (4 March).
A report says the costs spiralled because of the time needed to secure planning permission, lengthy land negotiations and the cost of meeting design requirements in a national park.
Rebuilding or refurbishing the bridge would probably mean no planning permission is required or compulsory purchase of land. New permanent traffic lights would be installed to manage the bottleneck.
The report to cabinet says: “Additional funding sources considered have included borrowing; consideration of the introduction of toll charges; and use of potential future Lane Rental income. However, none of these are viable.”
It concludes that it will not be possible to meet the estimated funding gap of £10.667 million.
It says refurbishing the existing structure would be a temporary fix with the bridge having to be replaced in a few years.
If agreed, the replacement bridge proposal will need confirmation from the Department for Transport that the original £8 million grant – made from Levelling Up funding – could still be used for the project.
As well as seeking permission to change the scheme, the council will also need to request an extension to the March 2025 deadline for spending the money, to March 2026.
