Work on major £5m roundabout revamp to start
Ten-month project will see signals removed
Work on a £5m roundabout revamp, which includes scrapping the traffic lights and increasing capacity by up to 60%, will start this month.
Kent County Council (KCC) said the improvement scheme at the A20 Coldharbour Roundabout, between Maidstone and Aylesford, can start as a contractor, Breheny Civil Engineering, has been appointed. KCC says the project, paid for through the government's Local Growth Fund and developer contributions, will see an extra lane around the roundabout and additional lanes provided on the approaches. Give way lines will replace the traffic lights at the entry points.
KCC’s cabinet member for highways and transport, Cllr Neil Baker said: “This project is expected to improve capacity of the Coldharbour Roundabout by 60% in the morning peak period and 40% during the evening, making for smoother journeys for local people and
helping to keep Kent moving.” Work is set to start on February 12 and end in December. A KCC statement said: “For the initial phases, daytime offpeak lane closures will be needed from 9.30am to 3.30pm so site teams can carry out surveys and install an access to the site compound from February 12 for up to four weeks. “Additional works will take place on the existing roundabout island and be completed at night when lane closures will be put in place between 7pm and 6am. Future traffic management will be completed during similar off-peak times to minimise disruption as much as possible.”
Changes to Coldharbour
Roundabout have been in the pipeline since 2019.
Borough councillor for Aylesford South and Ditton ward Colin Williams (Con) said: “I'm sure once the roadworks are completed, it will all be fine, but the construction is going to take far too long.
“I hope they can find some way to speed that up. Otherwise we are going to have nine months or more of absolute carnage. I worry about the impact it will have on traffic in Hermitage Lane, which is already heavily congested. “On the other hand, something has to be done, otherwise when all the new housing going up in the area is finished, we won't be able to move anyway.”
Cllr Williams was in two minds about doing away with the traffic lights.
He said: “KCC tell me they are 100% sure it will work without them. On the other hand, I believe they are laying the cables so that the lights can be easily reinstated if necessary. “That seems sensible, but also suggests there is still doubt over whether we need lights or not.”