Skip to content

A249 Grovehurst Road and interchange junction

We have been awarded £38.1million from the Housing and Infrastructure Fund to deliver highway improvements at two junctions of the A249 to the west of Sittingbourne:

The scheme to improve the Grovehurst Road and A249 junction will replace the existing “dumbbell” junction with a two-bridge flyover.

The improvements constructed by Jackson Civil Engineering to the A249/Grovehurst Road include:

  • replacing the existing junction with a two-bridge flyover
  • removing the current roundabouts and constructing an additional bridge to create a loop over the A249.

Scheme cost

The £38.6 million is funded by £38.1 million from the Housing Infrastructure Fund Grant.

Scheme documents

Due to the congestion on the roads, we as the local authority highway and Highways England are dedicated to improving the safety in this area of development.

The improvement scheme will increase capacity on the road network, and provide the infrastructure needed for the housing plans in Swale’s adopted local plan to be delivered. The housing plans consist of 4,628 new homes planned on the A249 corridor from the junction with the M2 to the Isle of Sheppey.

Formal decision

The approval to progress the scheme was taken by Kent County Council on 27 April 2020.

Planning consent for the Grovehurst Road scheme was granted on 16 March 2022.

In Kent, we are responsible for all public roads except motorways and trunk roads. The M2 and A249 are managed by National Highways.

Diversions

The diversion routes are clearly marked, including big signs letting drivers know Sheppey Way is not suitable for HGVs.

Despite the official diversion route not passing through Iwade, we understand motorists often look for the most convenient and direct route. We will continuously monitor and review the impact on Iwade.

Currently, the traffic management plan is in place until summer 2024. Any changes to the programme will be communicated to residents and businesses. To be notified of any changes email GrovehurstRoad@jackson-civils.co.uk to join our mailing list.

A249 northbound

  • Northbound exit slip, heading towards the Isle of Sheppey, will be closed from 8pm on Tuesday 7 May until the morning of Friday 30 August. One lane of the northbound exit slip will be reopened during the urgent repairs to the Kingsferry Bridge planned at various times in June and July, to help ease traffic flow in the area and minimise disruption as far as possible.
  • Northbound entry slip remains closed until August.
  • Northbound lane 1 is closed from after the entry slip from the Bobbing junction to the Grovehurst junction, until summer 2024.

A249 southbound

  • Southbound lane 1 is closed from after the entry slip from the Kingsferry Bridge to the Grovehurst Rd junction, until summer 2024.

Timescales

  • Advanced vegetation clearance - completed February 2023
  • Advanced ecological reptile translocation - completed spring to summer 2023
  • Contract award (main works) - completed May 2023
  • Commence works - August 2023
  • Works completed - early 2025.

Newsletters

View the latest updates of the A249 Grovehurst Road and Key Street scheme:

Media releases

24 April 2024 - Planned closure of the A249 northbound slip road (PDF, 788.8 KB)
19 December 2023 - A249 Grovehurst Road Improvement Scheme roadworks update
11 September 2023 - Works start on A249 Grovehurst Road junction improvements

To contact us or give feedback about this scheme email GrovehurstRoad@jackson-civils.co.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.