KCC submits bid to Government’s Structures Fund for A226 Galley Hill Road and A299

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View looking up at a chalk cliff topped with trees and a metal safety railing, with a corrugated metal industrial roof in the foreground and a pole-mounted security camera and lights to the left under a clear blue sky.

Kent County Council (KCC) has submitted a bid to the Government’s Structures Fund to secure vital investment for two high priority road schemes.

The first is for the A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe which aims to reinstate a major connection between Gravesend and Dartford, severed by a major cliff collapse in April 2023.

KCC has repeatedly made it clear since then that national funding would be essential to deliver a permanent solution to help to reconnect local communities. Since the collapse, the communities and businesses of Swanscombe, Greenhithe and Ebbsfleet have seen increased traffic and a reduction in bus routes.

As part of the bid, KCC is asking for between £40.6m and £46.3m from the Structures Fund to deliver the project and restore a previously cut off route.

Low-angle view of a newly resurfaced road with visible tarmac texture, an empty carriageway stretching into the distance under a pink and blue evening sky.

The secondary bid focuses on the A299 between Whitstable and Ramsgate

The secondary bid focuses on the A299 between Whitstable and Ramsgate, a strategically important route serving east Kent.

The proposed scheme would address safety critical issues including the refurbishment of two tunnels, repairs to four overbridges affected by ground movement, and deeper reconstruction of sections of the carriageway.

If successful, the investment would help remove the current 50mph speed restriction, reduce the risk of further unplanned closures caused by ageing tunnel safety equipment, and prevent potential closures of both the A299 and routes crossing the A299 due to deteriorating tunnels, bridges and embankments.

KCC is asking for around £63m from the Structures Fund to support this scheme.

Peter Osborne smiles towards the camera and is standing in front of green leaves

“We have made a strong case for the funding, and I hope the government sees just how important this is for communities in Kent.”

Peter Osborne Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

Peter Osborne, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “We know how important these roads are to the people who use them every day – whether that’s getting to work, running a business or staying connected with family and friends.

“This funding would help us fix long standing problems, prevent future closures and give local communities the confidence that these routes are safe and reliable for the long term. We have made a strong case for the funding, and I hope the government sees just how important this is for communities in Kent.”

Both schemes will now be assessed as part of the Government’s Structures Fund process, with final business case details submitted later this year.