The Sheppey Crossing is ten years old today

The bridge, which was part of a £100 million A249 improvement programme, has had a massive effect on the Island.

Whereas queues, especially in high summer, were commonplace at the Kingsferry, the crossing has made travelling to and from Sheppey far easier.

However, it hasn’t been without tragedy and controversy.

On September 5, 2013, it was the scene of ‘Britain’s biggest-ever collision’ when 130 vehicles crashed in thick fog on the Sittingbourne-bound carriageway.

And the following July, mother and son Deborah and Marshall Roberts, eight, died when their car was struck by a lorry on the same stretch.

Last year a coroner questioned the safety of the crossing, leading Highways England to implement a 12-month trial reducing the speed limit from 70mph to 50mph.

However, it was revealed earlier this year that the average speed on the bridge was still 70mph – meaning thousands of motorists break the limit across the 1.3km structure.

To coincide with this weekend’s anniversary, Highways England has released several statistics.

Based on June’s figures, it says an average total of 28,551 vehicles use the crossing daily.

However, many of these will be the same ones counted twice as people return home.

Up until June 17, the bridge, which is 35m at its highest point,has been closed 52 times in its history.

The most common cause of closure has been adverse weather conditions, with high winds being a common problem.

About 12% of vehicles using the crossing are HGVs, with firms serving the Port of Sheerness major users.

The fewest number of closures occurred in 2011 when it was shut just once.

The highest number was in 2014 when it was closed on nine occasions.

Figures showing traffic flow between April last year and this March show the busiest month was last July when 1,041,869 vehicles used it – an average of 33,608 a day.

Sheppey’s improved accessibility has contributed to more people choosing to move here.

It is estimated the current Island population is now around 42,000, an increase of about 4,000 on pre-crossing figures.

The increase in new homes, especially Minster’s Thistle Hill estate, has seen a rise in the number of vehicles using the roads. Ironically, this now sees daily queues from the Cowstead Corner roundabouts along the Lower Road.