Amendments have been made to plans to carry out maintenance works on the A299 New Thanet Way and Chestfield Tunnel
Kent County Council (KCC) has decided to postpone the carriageway reconstruction works, which would have seen the tunnel closed in alternate directions between the end of April and the end of June.
The tunnel lighting works will still take place.
The replacement lighting system and deep carriageway reconstruction works were originally planned to take place at the same time but following a review, it has been decided that the carriageway work will need to be replanned for a later date.
A contraflow system will be put in place while the tunnel lighting works are carried out to minimise disruption and ensure safety for the workforce.
The existing lighting system in the Chestfield Tunnel is at the end of its life and requires replacing as it uses fluorescent lamps, which will no longer be available after 25th August. KCC is therefore planning to replace the lights and its support system with LED technology.
KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, David Brazier said: “We have listened to people and understand the disruption that these planned, yet essential, maintenance works would cause the local community.
“The lighting replacement in the Chestfield Tunnel needs to happen urgently so we can guarantee the safety of those using it going forward.
“While we had hoped to get the road reconstruction works completed at the same time as the lighting upgrade, the extent of the works is too great to be completed in this timeframe, meaning we will have to revisit at a later date.”
The contraflow system will be used in two phases. It will be in place eastbound (coastbound) from 5am on Monday 24th April to 5pm on Friday 26th May before switching to the westbound (London-bound) direction between 1am on Tuesday 30th May to 5am on Friday 30th June. A temporary 40mph speed limit will be in place on the A299 Thanet Way in both directions between the Golden Hill overbridge and the Thornden Wood Road overbridge.
The A299 Thanet Way will be closed:
- In both directions between 8pm and 6am on Saturday 22nd April for two nights
- For up to two nights from Friday 26th May
- Friday 30th June for two nights, to enable the contraflow system to be installed, moved and removed.
Alternative routes are via the A2990 Thanet Way slip way, A291 Canterbury Road and A299 Eddington on-slip for coastbound traffic and the A299 Eddington slip way, A291 Canterbury Road, A2990 Thanet Way, A2990 Clapham Hill and A299 Whitstable slip way for London-bound traffic.
