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Armstrong Road, Park Way and Sheal's Crescent

These junction improvements are part of the A229 Loose Road corridor scheme. The scheme includes the following key junctions along the A229 into Maidstone:

Armstrong Road with Park Way

Improvements to this junction involved various changes to individual lanes including the addition of a new outside lane for vehicles travelling south to turn right into Armstrong Road.

When travelling from Park Way current single lane has divided in 2 with the new inside lane marked for turning left onto the A229.

Sheal's Crescent

For traffic travelling away from the town centre on the A229, we removed the give way lines at the end of the filter lane onto Sheal’s Crescent. Traffic will now flow freely to become the outside lane of Sheal’s Crescent.

For vehicles travelling towards the town centre lane will no longer widen into 2, instead remaining as one lane to become the inside lane of Sheal’s Crescent.

Changes to the Loose Road corridor were consulted on as part of the Keep Maidstone Moving schemes, designed to reduce congestion, travel times and pollution in Maidstone.

Scheme costs

The total cost of the A229 Loose Road corridor scheme is £5.63 million (excluding the purchase of the Wheatsheaf public house). The corridor scheme will be let as a single construction contract with the LGF contribution being £3.7 million and the developer contributions being £1.93 million.

The improvements are funded through the Maidstone Integrated Transport Package (MITP). The MITP is a wider package of highway schemes expected to cost £13.9 million in total, of which £8.9 million has been secured from the Local Growth Fund obtained from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

The remaining costs will be funded by Section 106 Developer Contributions from nearby housing developments.

Scheme documents

The Loose Road corridor has been identified as a transport priority for Maidstone in KCC’s Local Transport Plan 4. Maidstone’s Local Plan also identified the need for improvements to the Wheatsheaf junction, Boughton Lane junction and Loose Road.

The traffic problems were recognised in the examination of the Local Plan, with the Inspector recommending further investigation of potential transport improvements.

The entire urban area of Maidstone is covered by an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). These improvements are crucial to reducing congestion, improving journey times and reducing air pollution.

The decision by the SELEP Accountability Board to grant Local Growth Funding (LGF) for the Maidstone Integrated Transport Package (MITP) was made on the 12 April 2019.

On 19 January 2021, our Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee endorsed the recommendations to give authority to take the next phase of the A229 Loose Road corridor improvements through to construction.

Scheme objectives

The scheme objectives are to:

  • reduce travel time along A229 corridor
  • improve the reliability of journey times
  • stop the deterioration of and improve air quality
  • enable planned housing and employment growth
  • reduce the use of unsuitable routes as rat-runs (cut-throughs).

The Armstrong Road and Park Way junction improvement works started in early October. Associated road closures were scheduled to begin week commencing Monday 3 October 2022.

The works involved:

  • widening at Park Way
  • an additional right turn lane on the A229 southbound approach
  • an additional left turn lane on the Park Way approach
  • relocating the existing staggered pedestrian crossing to the Northbound approach of the A229 Loose Road.

As a result Park Way was closed from its junction with the A229 to its junction with Holtye Crescent for a minimum of 8 weeks. Access was restricted to residents only during that time.

In addition, the closure of Armstrong Road directly at the junction with the A229 Loose Road was required for short periods during the same minimum 8-week period.

Read the letter sent to local residents notifying them of the works (PDF, 145.4 KB)

Please note owing to concerns about Royal Mail strikes a small amount of hand deliveries have also been made to the properties closest to the scheme who may end up receiving two copies.

The Sheal’s Crescent improvements are to be reviewed following the implementation of highway improvements to Armstrong Road.

To contact us or give feedback about this scheme email a229looseroadcorridor@kent.gov.uk.

Funded by

The government Growth Deal provides money to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, funding projects which drive Kent’s economic and business growth.