A299 Thanet Way

From April to June 2023, we carried out work on the A299 Thanet Way between Herne Bay and Whitstable.

This work included the upgrade of the existing tunnel lighting system in the Chestfield Tunnel.

Work to upgrade the automated backup power supply to tunnel is being carried out in August 2023.

The existing fluorescent lamps will not be available after 25 August 2023. We will replace the lights and the lighting support system in the Chestfield Tunnel with Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology which is much more energy efficient and reduces our carbon emissions.

We are replacing the backup power supply which provides immediate backup energy if an unexpected failure in the main power supply occurs.

To install and commission the new uninterruptible power supply we need to switch off the power to all equipment in the tunnel which means we need to close the tunnel.

The A299 Thanet Way (Whitstable, Chestfield, Herne Bay and Herne and Broomfield) will therefore be closed in both directions between 8pm and 5am on:

  • 31 August to 1 September for 2 nights
  • 11 September for 1 night
  • or as signed on site.

The alternative routes are:

  • Coastbound via the A2990 Thanet Way slip way, A2990 Thanet Way, A291 Canterbury Road and A299 Eddington on slip.
  • London-bound via the A299 Eddington off slip, A291 Canterbury road, A2990 Thanet Way, A2990 Clapham Hill and A299 Whitstable on slip.

If you need additional information, let us know via our online reporting tool by selecting 'Thanet Way Tunnel LED Upgrade'.