A23 fuel spill closes southbound road between Hickstead and Pyecombe
What happened, which Sussex and Gatwick journeys are affected, and the safest way to plan around this live A23 disruption.
Live incident information can change quickly. Check the official status immediately before travel.
National Highways reported the A23 southbound closed between the A2300 at Hickstead and the A273 at Pyecombe while crews treated a fuel spillage from an earlier broken-down HGV. Local reporting described roughly two miles of traffic. The official closure status and queue can change at short notice.
What happened on the A23?
An HGV broke down on the A23 and left fuel on the carriageway. National Highways closed the southbound section between the A2300 interchange near Hickstead and the A273 junction at Pyecombe so service providers could treat the surface safely.
Some headlines called it an oil spill, while the official road update described it as a fuel spillage. Either way, the practical issue is the same: the road surface must be made safe before normal traffic can resume.
Why this section matters to Sussex travellers
This is not a minor back road. The affected stretch carries southbound traffic from Crawley, Gatwick and Mid Sussex towards Brighton, Hove and the coast. The A2300 connects Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath with the A23, while the A273 junction serves Pyecombe, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint and the northern approach to Brighton.
Gatwick and Crawley to Brighton
Southbound airport arrivals and other journeys towards Brighton use the affected direction and should be planned against the latest official closure and diversion information.
Brighton to Gatwick departures
The reported closure is southbound, while Brighton to Gatwick normally travels northbound. However, queues, vehicle displacement and busy local roads can still affect pickup and journey planning.
What should you do before travelling?
Check the live road status
Use National Highways or a trusted live traffic service immediately before leaving. Do not rely on an earlier screenshot or social-media post.
Follow the signed diversion
Use the official route shown at the closure. Unverified shortcuts through narrow Sussex lanes can create new delays and may be unsuitable for larger vehicles.
Protect time-critical journeys
For flights, appointments, trains and events, allow a sensible additional buffer based on the live conditions rather than the normal journey time.
Keep your operator updated
If you have a pre-booked transfer, keep your phone on and share any flight, terminal or pickup change as soon as possible.
Areas likely to feel the disruption
Traffic displaced from a major A23 closure can place extra pressure on nearby junctions and local routes. Check conditions carefully if your journey starts or finishes in these areas:
Why a fuel spill can keep a road closed
Removing the broken-down vehicle is only part of the job. Fuel can leave the carriageway slippery, so specialist crews may need to absorb and treat the spill, inspect the surface and confirm that it is safe before lanes reopen. That is why a road can remain closed after the original vehicle has been recovered.
Travelling with Sussex Airports Taxis
We provide pre-booked airport and local travel across Brighton, Hove, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and wider Sussex. For airport journeys, we record the flight, terminal, passengers and luggage together and monitor major route conditions when planning the pickup.
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Important: no operator can guarantee a normal journey time during a live road closure. Your confirmed quote and pickup plan remain the final reference. We cannot currently supply child seats.
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A23 fuel spill FAQs
Which part of the A23 was closed?
National Highways reported the southbound carriageway closed between the A2300 at Hickstead and the A273 at Pyecombe.
What caused the closure?
The official update said crews were treating a fuel spillage left by an earlier broken-down HGV.
Does this affect Gatwick to Brighton?
Yes. Gatwick to Brighton is a southbound journey and normally uses this part of the A23, so travellers should check the live closure and diversion before setting off.
Does this affect Brighton to Gatwick?
The reported closure is on the opposite carriageway, but knock-on queues and heavier local traffic may still affect pickup and journey planning. Check live conditions and allow a suitable buffer.
When will the A23 reopen?
No reopening time should be assumed. Use the National Highways live alert for the latest verified status.
Should I use local lanes as a shortcut?
Follow the signed diversion and live navigation advice. Narrow rural lanes may be busy, unsuitable or slower during a major closure.
Published by Sussex Airports Taxis for general travel information on 4 September 2026. Incident details and road conditions can change quickly. Sussex Airports Taxis is an independent licensed private-hire operator and is not affiliated with National Highways, Gatwick Airport, The Argus or any other organisation mentioned.