A249 Grovehurst Road Traffic Management wc 23.03.2026

Dear resident /stakeholder,

Please see traffic management update for next week.

Gyratory traffic lights switch on

This is to inform you that the permanent traffic lights on the gyratory will be switched on from Monday 23 March, allowing the gyratory to operate as intended. Due to continued presence of traffic management on the junction, we advise road users to adhere to the speed limit and road signs until the works are finally completed and all traffic management removed from the junction.

Grovehurst Road north (Iwade) closure

Please be reminded that Grovehurst Road north (Iwade) will be closed in both directions on Wednesday 25 March 2026 from 10am -10pm to allow us carry out high friction surfacing works.

Diversion for this closure is via Ridham junction and Sheppey Way into Iwade, and vice versa.

A249 Northbound entry slip closure

We will be closing the A249 northbound entry slip road from Monday 30th March until Wednesday 1 April to complete essential surveys and testing of works. The closure will be in place from 6am - 6pm daily.

Diversion for this closure is via the southbound entry slip road to Bobbing and back on the A249 northbound.

The A249 southbound will be down to one lane at Grovehurst Road junction on the night of Wednesday 31 March from 8pm - 6am to enable us carry out finishing works to the slip road.

Traffic management wc 23 March 2026

• Grovehurst Road north (towards Iwade), closed from 10am -10pm on Wednesday 25 March
• Grovehurst Road south (towards Kemsley), open
• A249 northbound (towards Sheppey) exit slip road is open
• A249 northbound entry slip road is open
• Grovehurst Road old bridge is open
• A249 northbound and southbound mainline is open
• Swale Way northbound and southbound is open
• A249 Southbound (towards Maidstone) entry slip road is open
• A249 southbound exit slip road is closed until 19 April for BT works

Regards,

Traffic Management

 

BT utility works - upcoming closure of A249 southbound exit slip road 

Dear Stakeholder, 

To allow for BT to complete the utility diversions needed for the new junction, a new BT chamber must be installed on the verge of the A249 southbound slip road (towards Maidstone). The work involves digging to a depth of around 3 metres, and construction equipment will be working close to the road.

For the safety of both workers and road users, the A249 southbound exit slip road will need to be closed 24 hours a day while this work takes place.

Closure dates:
Monday 9 March to Sunday 19 April

Diversion route:
Drivers will need to continue to Bobbing Junction, turn to join the A249 northbound (towards Sheppey) and exit at the Grovehurst Road junction.

Thank you for your patience while we carry out this essential work.

Kind regards, 

A249 Swale Project Team - Major Capital Programme | Highways, Transportation & Waste | Kent County Council | 1st Floor, Invicta House, Maidstone, ME14 1XX | Email: a249swalejunctionimprovements@kent.gov.uk | www.kent.gov.uk

 

A249 Grovehurst Road Traffic Management wc 23.02.2026

Advance notice of Grovehurst Road north (Iwade) closure

This is to inform you in advance that there will be a closure of Grovehurst Road north (Iwade) in both directions on Wednesday 25 March 2026 from 10am -10pm.

This is to allow us carry out high friction surfacing works.

Diversion for this closure will be via Ridham junction and Sheppey Way into Iwade, and vice versa.

 

Please be reminded that both the northbound and southbound A249 mainline, and the old Grovehurst bridge will be closed on Friday 6 March from 8pm - 6am to enable us erect lighting columns.

 

Traffic management wc 23 February 2026.

 

• Grovehurst Road north (towards Iwade), open
• Grovehurst Road south (towards Kemsley), open
• A249 northbound (towards Sheppey) exit slip road is open
• A249 northbound entry slip road is open
• Grovehurst Road old bridge, open
• Swale Way northbound and southbound, open
• A249 Southbound (towards Maidstone) entry slip road is open
• A249 southbound exit slip road is closed from 8pm on Monday 23 until 6am on Tuesday 24 February

 

Grovehurst Road Improvement Scheme completion works update

 

Contractors working on the upgrade of the Grovehurst Road junction are due to complete the majority of the works by early December.

 

Engineers will return in the New Year to complete the remaining utility connections and address any redundant chambers and ducts, before the scheme is considered complete.

 

Complications in the planning, poor weather conditions in the early phase of the build and works on the surrounding roads not associated with the project have meant the timeline for completion has slipped.

 

KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Peter Osborne, said: “Our improvements to the Grovehurst Road junction are progressing well.

 

“We will continue to work with our contractor to make sure any further work needed to complete the project is planned to minimise further delay and disruption as much as possible.”

 

The A249 Grovehurst Road Improvement Scheme will unlock new homes planned along the A249 corridor from the junction with the M2 to the Isle of Sheppey.

 

The improvements include altering the slip and approach roads to the junction, service diversions, changing traffic signals, lighting and major earthwork operations.

 

This will increase capacity on the road network and provide the infrastructure needed for the proposed housing plans in Swale and is being paid for through the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund and developer contributions.

 

More information about the project is available on the project website.