Crash-hit junction to be made safer

Notorious crossroads to be shut overnight

A junction plagued by crashes will close for a week of upgrade works.

The Ashford Road, Magpie Hall Road and Steeds Lane crossroads in Kingsnorth will be shut for about seven nights from Monday, March 15 between 8pm and 6am.

The notorious junction – next to Ashford Town Cricket Club – has been the site of a number of incidents in recent years.

There were three crashes over the course of eight days in December 2019, leaving one person in a serious condition.

This spate of incidents prompted residents living nearby to call on Kent County Council to review the junction and possible safety measures.

Promises of upgrades came after the seriously injured

casualty – a man in his 50s from Sevenoaks – later died.

Unveiling the improvement plans, KCC announced it would refresh road markings and install additional road signs.

But residents believed this didn’t go far enough and called for changes to be made quickly, a plea emboldened by a crash a day after KCC pledge that saw four hospitalised.

Now the authority has unveiled another upgrades scheme, which will be implemented later this month.

A public notice to those living nearby reads: “KCC is planning to implement a scheme involving resurfacing works, the application of high-friction surfacing and new road studs on the Ashford Road approaches to the crossroads junction with Magpie Hall Road.

“We will be applying high-friction surfacing, refreshing the road bar markings and improving signing and lighting on the Magpie Hall Road approach to the crossroads.

“On Steeds Lane, we will be resurfacing the junction, relocating the 40mph/national speed limit terminal and improving road markings.”

The notorious junction is to be improved by KCC