A228 Malling Road Closure, 25 July 2010 - 6 September 2010

Prepare for delays!

This summer during the school holidays SGN are preparing to replace the gas main that runs down the A228. This will require a full closure of the A228 for the entire duration of the works. The road will be closed at midnight 25 July for up to 6 weeks.

The closure of the A228 will be effective from the roundabout with Gibson Drive down to Mereworth roundabout junction with the A26. Local access will be maintained for all residents of the 'Fighter Estates' and Mereworth Village. The diversion route for all traffic will be A26 Maidstone Road, B2016 Seven Mile Lane, Nepicar roundabout, A20 London Road, A228 Ashton Way, to Kings Hill.

As part of the closure of the A228, Kent Highways are keen to prevent motorists "rat-running" the single track lanes between the A228 and Seven Mile Lane. Therefore they will be placing additional measures such as a road closure at the junction of Beaufighter Road and Beech Road to prevent any access through to Kings Hill and the banning of right turns for northbound traffic on Seven Mile Lane into Beech Road, Willow Wents, Comp Lane and Teston Road. See below for a plan of the proposed diversion route.

These measures will effectively keep all diverted traffic on the diversion route for as long as possible. Undoubtedly traffic will try to use a number of these 'rat runs', given the large volumes of traffic it is likely that any of these short cuts will quickly become clogged up with vehicles.

Although these works are being scheduled for the school holidays when the volume of traffic is significantly lighter, there will be delays in journeys to and from the Kings Hill Estate.

In addition to the SGN works, plans are being made by Liberty Property Trust and Kent Highways to use this closure to re-model and re-furbish the roundabout on the A228 junction with Gibson Drive. This will result in Gibson Drive being closed and the A228 being closed back at the Blaise Farm roundabout. All access to Kings Hill will be via the monument roundabout at the end of the A228 dual-carriageway.

Map of the diversion Route

For any further enquiries please contact either:

Southern Gas Networks - 01233 714082 or out of hours 0800 111999

Or

Kent Highway Services - 08458 247 800

And

Liberty Property Trust - 01732 870375 (in relation to enquires around the work on the A228/Gibson Drive roundabout).

For pedestrians, please note that footpath access will be maintained both at the Gibson Drive roundabout and along the A228.