Currently the A249 is reduced to one lane southbound, towards Stockbury, between the Cowstead Corner roundabout on the Isle of Sheppey and the A249 at the Grovehurst Road junction.
Following completion of the time critical ecological works, the single lane closure on the southbound carriageway is now planned to be removed on the evening of Wednesday 15th November.
The works will be rephased so that construction of the new bridge at the Grovehurst junction, which requires a lane closure of the southbound carriageway, will commence in early January 2024.
KCC will work with National Highways to provide a safe traffic management system that can be put in place, which minimises disruption as far as possible.
The single lane closure on the northbound A249, towards the Isle of Sheppey, between the A249 at the Bobbing junction and the Grovehurst Road junction, will remain in place while work is concentrated on that side of the road.
“We understand the single lane closure over the southbound Sheppey Crossing has been disruptive for people.”
KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Neil Baker, said: “The A249 Grovehurst Road Improvement Scheme will see a new bridge built over the dual carriageway below, helping to enable growth, reduce congestion and make journey times more reliable.
“We understand the single lane closure over the southbound Sheppey Crossing has been disruptive for people. That is why we have asked our contractor to rearrange the way they work so we can minimise disruption as far as possible.
“Safety is our priority and in early January we expect that we will have to reinstate the single lane closure, but we are working with National Highways to find a way in which we can safely reduce queuing time where possible.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The A249 Grovehurst Road Improvement Scheme will unlock new homes planned on the A249 corridor from the junction with the M2 to the Isle of Sheppey. The improvements include altering the slip and approach roads to the junction, service diversions, changing traffic signals, lighting, and major earthwork operations. This will increase capacity on the road network and provide the infrastructure needed for the proposed housing plans in Swale and is being paid for through the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund and developer contributions.
