Cones to be temporarily removed from the A249

Kent County Council (KCC) will temporarily remove the traffic management from the northbound A249 during essential maintenance on the Kingsferry Bridge by Network Rail.

Traffic management has been on the mainline for much of the year after the building work started for the Grovehurst Road Improvement Scheme.

Since 9 September the southbound exit slip road leading to Grovehurst Road has been closed with traffic being diverted northbound via the Bobbing Roundabout.

Network Rail has informed KCC that it intends to close the Kingsferry Bridge between 10pm on Friday, 25 October, until 5am on Sunday, 3 November.

KCC is temporarily withdrawing the single-lane closure northbound on the A249 to help increase capacity and reduce disruption for the travelling public.

Additional measures including placing breakdown vehicles in busy areas at peak times and putting on additional shuttle buses to encourage people to use public transport will be brought in.

We understand the works are incredibly disruptive for people in the area however we know that the bridge could fail if these repairs are not made and we acknowledge the importance that the works are completed as soon as possible to prevent future negative impacts on jobs and livelihoods.

Non-emergency roadworks in the area for the duration of the closure of the Kingsferry Bridge are being refused. Our highways inspectors are closely monitoring local roads to ensure any emergency works required by utility companies are known and completed with as quickly as possible.

KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Neil Baker, said: “We are doing everything we can to lessen the impact on the travelling public.

“We recognise the disruption that came before when previous closures of the Kingsferry Bridge were required and we are now in a position to do even more to reduce disruption.

“Once Network Rail has completed its work, the cones will be redeployed so we can continue to deliver the new gyratory as soon as possible.”