Sheppey Crossing traffic management to be removed
The Sheppey Crossing traffic management is set to be removed with the road to be fully reopened while alternative arrangements are considered. Kent County Council[1] (KCC) has instructed its contractor working on the A249 Grovehurst Road Improvement Scheme to fully reopen the route.
Currently, the A249 is reduced to one lane southbound, towards Stockbury, between the Cowstead Corner roundabout on the Isle of Sheppey[2] and the A249 at the Grovehurst Road junction. KCC says that, 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, November 15.
The works will be re-phased 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 says it will now 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 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.
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.”
References
- ^ Kent County Council (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Isle of Sheppey (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ The stunning Kent walk with a dog-friendly pub and crackling fire at the end (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Huge new housing estate in Kent village on verge of being approved (www.kentlive.news)