A series of closures will take place on and around the A249 near Sittingbourne from January as part of an ongoing improvement scheme. In September 2023, a large-scale project to revamp the A249 Grovehurst Road junction began.
The £38.6 million scheme – £38.1m of which had been funded from the Housing Infrastructure Fund Grant – is underway to replace the original ‘dumbbell junction’ with a two-bridge flyover. This will involve the removal of the current roundabouts and the construction of an additional bridge to create a loop over the A249.
Works were initially scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024 but the project was extended last spring, with a new end date of May 2025 set. As the final phases of the scheme are carried out, there will be a number of closures around this stretch of the A249 across the start of the year which drivers will need to be aware of.
The prior traffic management in both directions of the A249 was removed at the end of last year and will not be required for the next stages of work. But there will be occasional evening road closures impacting both directions of travel on the A249 at various times in 2025.
Additionally, both the northbound and southbound slip roads will see closures from early January. Full closures to Grovehurst Road north (towards Iwade) and Grovehurst Road south (B2005) are scheduled to take place from January as well, often for multiple consecutive weeks at a time.
Speaking on the diversion routes for these closures, KCC Highways said: “The diversion routes are clearly marked, including big signs letting drivers know Sheppey Way is not suitable for HGVs. Despite the official diversion route not passing through Iwade, we understand motorists often look for the most convenient and direct route.
“We will continuously monitor and review the impact on Iwade.” See below for the full timetable of closures.
A249 Grovehurst Road improvement scheme closures 2025
| Road name | Traffic management | Work dates |
| A249 northbound | Exit slip closure | From 5am to 6pm, January 3 |
| A249 southbound | Entry slip closure |
From 5am to 6pm, January 3 |
| A249 northbound | Ext slip closure |
From 5am on January 6 to 6pm on January 18 (full closure for 2 weeks) |
| A249 southbound | Entry slip closure |
From 5am on January 6 to 6pm on January 18 (full closure for 2 weeks) |
| A249 southbound | Exit slip lane 1 closure |
From 5am to 6pm daily from January 6 to February 3 (daytime only for 4 weeks) |
|
Grovehurst Road north (Iwade) |
Full closure |
From 6am on January 6 to 6pm on February 7 (full closure for 5 weeks) |
|
A249 southbound |
Exit slip closure |
From 8pm on January 17 to 5am January 20 (full closure) |
| Swale Way | Full closure |
From 8pm on January 17 to 5am January 20 (full closure) |
|
A249 southbound |
Entry slip closure |
From 6am to 6pm daily from January 20 to January 24 (daytime only for 5 days) |
|
A249 northbound |
Exit slip closure |
From 6am to 6pm daily from January 20 to January 25 (daytime only for 6 days) |
| A249 | Northbound and southbound closure |
From 8pm to 6am each night from January 20 to January 25 (nights only for 5 days) |
|
Grovehurst Road south (B2005) |
Full closure |
From 5am on January 20 to 8pm on April 13 (full closure for 12 weeks) |
|
A249 northbound |
Exit slip closure |
From 5am on January 27 to 8pm on February 1 (full closure for 6 days) |
|
A249 southbound |
Exit slip closure |
From 8pm on January 31 to 5am February 3 (full closure) |
| Swale Way |
Full closure |
From 8pm on January 31 to 5am February 3 (full closure) |
|
A249 southbound |
Exit slip closure |
From 5am on February 6 to 6pm on April 8 |