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A249 Grovehurst Road and Key Street

We have been awarded £38.1million from the Housing and Infrastructure Fund to deliver highway improvements at 2 junctions of the A249 to the west of Sittingbourne.

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

The improvements 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.

Improvements to Key Street roundabout will include:

  • the closure of the existing A249 southbound exit slip road and the redirection of southbound traffic along Chestnut Street
  • the addition of a lane at the Chestnut Street roundabout arm
  • an additional left turn lane on the A2 Key Street arm approach
  • various capacity and safety improvements to the Keycol Hill arm
  • the installation of a new toucan crossing on the Sheppey Way roundabout arm to provide a safe crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.

Scheme cost

The £38.6 million is funded by £38.1 million from the Housing Infrastructure Fund Grant along with £900,000 of developer contributions for the Key Street scheme.

Scheme documents

This area is currently congested which had meant we, as the Local Highway Authority, along with Highways England have had to put restrictions on the development area. There are 4,628 new homes planned on the A249 corridor from the junction with the M2 to the Isle of Sheppey.

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.

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.

To allow construction works to take place and provide a safe working space, the following closures are planned:

  • 13 to 25 September - Swale Way
    Single lane running with three-way temporary traffic signals.
  • 8pm on 20 September to 6am on 21 September - A249 Southbound
    Full southbound closure of the A249 (towards Stockbury) between the exit and entry slip roads at the A249 Grovehurst Road junction.
  • 8pm on 21 September to 6am on 22 September - A249 Northbound
    Full northbound closure of the A249 (towards Isle of Sheppey) between the exit and entry slip roads at the A249 Grovehurst Road junction.
  • 22 September to January 2024 - A249/Grovehurst Road northbound
    Exit and entry slip lanes for the Grovehurst Road junction heading northbound, towards the Isle of Sheppey, will be closed for approximately 4 months.

Map of diversion routes for the slip road closures (PDF, 232.5 KB).

Timescales

Key dates for Grovehurst Road are:

  • advanced vegetation clearance  - completed February 2023
  • advanced ecological reptile translocation  - spring to summer 2023
  • contract award (main works) - completed May 2023
  • commence works - August 2023
  • works completed - autumn 2024.

Key dates for Key Street are:

  • detailed design documents issued - completed May 2023
  • procurement - autumn 2023
  • construction of Chestnut Street roundabout (by others) - late 2023 to May 2024
  • contract award - early 2024
  • commence works - early 2024
  • works completed - autumn 2024.

Newsletters

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

Read our media release about the works starting on 11 September 2023

To contact us or give feedback about this scheme email a249swalejunctionimprovements@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.