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More on KentOnline
Furious drivers claim it would be quicker to walk around a “gridlocked” Kent town after several long-term roadwork projects began this week.
Both Kennington Road (A2070) and Newtown Road in Ashford are now undergoing repair work in a move expected to bring traffic misery across the area.
Gas works on both routes began on Monday and have contributed to motorists facing heavy delays across the town.
It means there are now seven roadwork schemes taking place in Ashford with key routes blocked or drivers facing temporary traffic lights.
However, following the heavy disruption this week, SGN has now decided to postpone some of its work in Newtown Road by installing temporary traffic lights at 9am on Wednesday (March 5) before closing it off again from March 17 until April 4.
But drivers are still being braced with huge delays until Saturday (March 8) on A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road.
It comes after National Highways closed one lane on both carriageways for “upgrades” heading towards the Bellamy Gurner four-way junction.
Part of nearby Barrey Road and Church Road in Sevington has also shut in both directions while UK Power Networks carries out electrical works until April 25.
This is alongside an ongoing rolling road closure in Stanhope Road until the end of the month, plus engineers from UK Power Networks carrying out repairs to its underground electricity network in Bank Street.
The latter has also led to all buses needing to avoid the area while the route is closed, with several passengers spotted queuing in Vicarage Lane and Station Road yesterday morning while the works continue until March 12.
And finally, drivers are still seeing the temporary closure of a lane of Somerset Road between New Street and Bakers Court. The works are due to finish on Saturday.
The avalanche of projects has angered residents, with Giuseppe Lanzino saying the traffic is now so bad he is "going to have to get the helicopter out" to drive across the borough.
Meanwhile, fellow resident Pam Cairns has insisted the growing congestion is now putting her, and others, off going to the town centre altogether.
"I am now consciously making a point not to go to the Matalan roundabout in the mornings," the 66-year-old said.
"It's getting horrendous lately and so avoiding it does make a big difference to my day.
"Living somewhere rural like we do, is it all stopping us coming into the town centre? Yes it does.
"Traffic near the outlet too is horrific lately.
"My brother lives in Kennington and likes to access Junction 10 quite frequently, but told me the other day the closure there [of Kennington Road] is going to impact him when trying to get to the motorway."
Other Ashford residents say they are equally as concerned by the amount of congestion, fearing it may prove costly for those reliant on emergency services.
Sue Lenihan said: "Some [roadworks] will have to be cancelled as people are going to die trying to get to hospitals or ambulances to them.
"There are no routes without closures and restrictions."
Meanwhile, Casey Walker said: "Junction 10 to home should be a two/three-minute drive for me - instead it's 25.
"It would be quicker to leave the car and walk. Absolute shambles."
Last month, landlord Howard Lapish, who runs The Hooden Bar and Grill in Silver Hill Road, branded the programme of works on Kennington Road an “absolute joke”.
The 56-year-old says he can't envisage the eatery will still be trading at the end of the project, which started yesterday with a nine-week closure of the stretch for SGN gas works.
The final phase of the work is not expected to be completed until mid-September.
"I think it's an absolute joke and it's going to be a nightmare," said Mr Lapish, who has up to 20 staff on his books during the summer.
"We're on an independent leasehold so whatever trade we lose, we actually lose - that would be thousands if it's like last time.
"As we're coming into the summer months where a lot of our trade is, if we lost a lot there's a chance I may actually close the doors."
Kent County Council is the authority responsible for maintaining the county's roads.
A spokesperson said: “Road closures are disruptive and frustrating for drivers, but they are essential to maintaining Kent’s roads and the availability of utility services such as water, gas, telephone and broadband, that everyone relies on.
“KCC does not have the power to stop utility companies carrying out planned or emergency works on our roads and we use the limited powers we do have to minimise disruption wherever possible."
They continued: “Our works on Somerset Road in Ashford town centre are set to be completed by Friday (March 7) and the lane closure has now reopened.
“These works are for a wall rebuild and the lane closure was in place for safety reasons while the wall was being dismantled.
“The other highways projects in Ashford are essential for highway maintenance, highway layout improvements or utility company repairs/replacement works.
“Included in this is the National Highways' works on the A2070.”
