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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 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 £500,000 of developer contributions for the Key Street scheme.

Scheme documents

Consultation feedback reports

Swale Joint Transport Board Report September 2021 (PDF, 171.6 KB)

Proposed Key Street Junction General Layout Plan (PDF, 1.3 MB)

Proposed Grovehurst Junction General Arrangement (PDF, 2.5 MB)

A249 Grovehurst Road and Key Street consultation booklet (PDF, 1.9 MB)

A249 Grovehurst Road and Key Street Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) (PDF, 179.5 KB)

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.

Timescales

Key dates are:

  • analysis of feedback from this consultation - summer 2021
  • further environmental survey work - 2021
  • planning consent for the Grovehurst Road Improvements granted - February 2022
  • detailed design work - spring 2021 to spring 2022
  • Advance environmental mitigation works - spring 2022 to spring 2023
  • construction works start - May 2023
  • construction works completed - summer 2024.

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.