Kentish Express Ashford & District
It looks like a long – of disruption and
Motorists and residents face three months of disruption when a road widening scheme gets under way later this month.
Kent County Council has announced plans to widen a section of Kennington Road in Ashford where there is a sharp pinch point which causes traffic to back up.
The road stretches from the Spearpoint roundabout to junction 10 of the M20, and traffic uses the road to get to the William Harvey Hospital, the Julie Rose Stadium, and the Givaudan and Premier Foods factories.
The road will be closed in both directions between the junction with Blackwall Road North and near the Givaudan plant as part of the 11-weektask.
Pedestrian access will continue, and residents will also still be able to access their properties, but there will be no through traffic between the two roundabouts.
KCC cabinet member Matthew Balfour said: “I appreciate this will cause disruption and for that I apologise.
“These works will remove a potential safety issue as well as improve traffic flows in Ashford. I’d ask residents to bear with us while these works are carried out and ultimately lead to a better road for Ashford drivers.”
The project budget is £800,000, made up of £250,000 of Kent Lane Rental Funding, £250,000 S106 developer funding and £300,000 KCC Local Transport Plan funding.
Work will be carried out between 7am and 5pm during the working week and from 7am to 3pm on Saturdays. KCC says diversions will be in place and will be clearly signposted.
The actual section of road being widened stretches from the Longport Bridge over the River Stour in Kennington Road near Givaudan to Blackwall Road North.
KCC has announced that roadworks will start on Tuesday, June 20, and that it is hoped the work will be finished by Sunday, September 3.
Access to the remainder of the A2070 Kennington Road will continue from either direction up to where the road is closed, but there will be no through access.
KCC says due to the nature of the works, it will not be possible to re-open the road outside the working hours.
During the works there will be an alternative exit from the William Harvey Hospital and so a temporary mandatory speed limit of 30mph will be imposed on The Street,