Bosses finally confirm when main road will shut

Bosses have finally confirmed when a main road which was shut for eight months will close again.

As the Kentish Express revealed earlier this month, Newtown Road will shut from Monday, May 13 to Friday, July 19, causing 10 weeks of delays across the town.

It comes after drivers faced 32 weeks of traffic hell last year after contractors shut the stretch April as part of the Designer Outlet’s £90 million expansion.

Chiefs say the closure at the junction with Romney Marsh Road will allow contractors to remove interim traffic islands and install a new, controlled pedestrian crossing.

A new tabletop ramp at the crossing will also be put in.

New paving on footpaths will also be put down, and lighting and signage improvements will be completed.

Chiefs say the works “will make it easier for people to move between Ashford International Station, the town centre and the Designer Outlet”.

During the closure, there will be no access to Ashford International station and its car parks from the A2042 Romney Marsh Road and a fully signed diversion route will be in place via the Orbital Park roundabout and Crowbridge Road.

The outlet extension, which is costing £90m, is expected to open in the autumn, adding 50 new shops to the site.

Newtown Road will close again in May, as the Kentish Express revealed earlier this month