River Medway Towpath Improvements
A Single Local Growth Fund project to upgrade the existing towpath along the River Medway in Maidstone between Barming and Aylesford. The project is designed to accommodate the increasing use of cyclists along this route.
The project includes the provision of a sustainable all-weather surface along the river bank as well as ecological restoration.
Towpath closures and construction phases
Barming to Maidstone
The shared use pedestrian/cycle route between South Street Barming and Lockmeadow, Maidstone is now open.
Please note that Environment Agency works at East Farleigh have meant that a short area of the “dismount” section by East Farleigh lock will remain unsurfaced until the lock works are completed.
Maidstone town centre
Additional works to the section of towpath between the Medway Street subway and the railway over bridge by Maidstone East station have now commenced.
This section of the path is expected to be closed until early September 2017 however would not affect the promoted cycle route.
Aylesford to Travis Perkins, Forstal Road
The footpath element of the towpath improvement between Travis Perkins, Aylesford and Aylesford village is now open.
The scheme includes:
- repairing 14 areas of eroded river bank
- sealed surfacing the 2.5 metre pathway
- planting of over 130 riverbank trees and plants to prevent future erosion
- replacement of existing benches
- improved access for disabled users
- new signs
- new parking facilities at Lockmeadow and the Museum of Kent Life
- fixed stand cycle repair stations.
The scheme objectives are to:
- facilitate sustainable access to education and employment along the River Medway corridor through Maidstone
- increase access for disabled users
- improve the ecology of the river
- provide access for travel in a traffic-free environment.