Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Major route to shut for work on key bridge
Drivers braced for traffic misery ahead of closure
Drivers are being warned to expect disruption on a key route, ahead of three weeks’ worth of closures, as important work is carried out by National Highways.
The A251, which links Faversham to Ashford, is set to be intermittently closed this month for maintenance work on a bridge that carries the road over the M2.
The National Highways project will start on Monday, April 8 and is expected to be completed by the morning of Monday, April 29. Works will be carried out overnight and over three weekends, closing the A251 to
traffic.
The closures will be in force on weeknights between 8pm and 6am.
It will also be closed from 8pm on the Friday evening until 6am on the Monday over the following three weekends: Friday 12 to Monday April 15, Friday 19 to Monday April 22 and Friday 26 to Monday April 29. Clearly signed diversions will be in place via the A2, A2050, A28, A252 and A251. Access for residents will be maintained although may involve a short delay depending on the stage of the work. The layby on the bridge will remain closed throughout the duration of the work. National Highways project manager Nicola Thorp advises drivers to allow for additional time when travelling during the works, which will prolong the life of the bridge.
‘I advise anyone wishing to use the A251 to plan their journeys and allow additional time...’
She said: “Work to maintain the bridge that carries the A251 over the M2 will help prolong the life of the structure to provide drivers with safe and reliable journeys over the coming years.
“We are carrying out as much of the work overnight, when traffic flows are lowest, as possible.
“Some of the work cannot be carried out in the short timescale of a night shift and will require weekend closures of the A251.
“I advise anyone wishing to use the A251 to plan their journeys and allow additional time for their journeys.”