Medway City Estate roadworks project with new sliproad and Medway Tunnel resurfacing completion date announced by Medway Council
Published: 13:42, 01 April 2022
Updated: 13:46, 01 April 2022
After months of delays and traffic restrictions, a major road junction upgrade is set to end this month.
The completion date for works to build a new sliproad at the exit to the Medway City Estate and resurfacing works through the Medway Tunnel has been confirmed by the council today.
Motorists have faced long delays through the tunnel and lane closures since September when the project began.
The initial completion date was expected in February when work started on the £2.6 million works – which saw costs increase by £353,000 and extra cash injected by the council last month.
Since then, the council has not released a completion date referring only to "spring" but today the authority announced the works are scheduled to finish ahead of the Easter weekend on April 14.
All traffic management is expected to be cleared by Good Friday, the council said.
In a statement, the council said it is working with contractors to "deliver the final works as efficiently as possible".
Works will continue for the next two weeks with road re-surfacing taking place under night time closures through the Medway Tunnel, Berwick Way and Anthony's Way.
The final overnight closure will be tonight from 8pm until 5.30am tomorrow.
The Medway Tunnel and Berwick Way will be closed in both directions.
The Upnor roundabout at the junction with Anthony's Way and Berwick will be shut and the exit off the Medway City Estate on the northbound part of Anthony's Way will also close.
Access to the estate will be via Commissioner's Road and will be included in a signed diversion.
Daytime works will throughout the weekend and the single-lane closure on the Strood-bound side of the tunnel shut during the daytime.
From Monday, the final phase of construction work will begin and the tunnel lane will continue. The right hand lane of the Berwick Way northbound carriageway will also shut from Monday.
The southbound side will be reduced to one lane towards the Medway Tunnel between 9.30am and 3pm until the end of works.
The council statement added: "Medway Council thanks all drivers and road users for their continued patience and understanding whilst these works are being carried out."
Before works started, KentOnline revealed costs had increased by £500,000 to £2.3m due to issues with sourcing materials during the pandemic.
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Matt Leclere