Jackson Civil Engineering, the contractors responsible for the Key Street roundabout project in Bobbing, near Sittingbourne in Kent, have announced that the work will be completed this week.
The junction, which joins with the A249, is used by thousands of drivers daily heading in and out of the town towards Sheppey, Maidstone and Medway, says Kent Online.
Work was supposed to start in the summer of 2024, but was pushed back after a dormouse nest was discovered. The species is protected, and as a result, it is an offence to disturb or damage any place used for their shelter or protection. A dormouse mitigation licence is needed ahead of work starting if the creatures are found.
The Kent County Council (KCC) scheme, which has cost £5.8m, got underway at the end of January last year.
The work, carried out by Jackson Civil Engineering, included permanently closing the A249 Maidstone-bound entry slip lane, which was used by more than 7,300 vehicles every day.
The new layout diverts motorists down Chestnut Street, where there is a new roundabout just before the Tudor Rose pub with a link road that connects to the A249.
That roundabout is part of the Wises Lane development in Borden and will provide access to almost 600 new homes, a rugby facility and a primary school, which will all be built by Quinn Estates.
Another approved 50 homes at Manor Farm, Borden, will also have access to Chestnut Street via a link road, which will be built by Balmoral Land.
That part of the project was completed on December 5.
Other upgrades include extra lanes at the Chestnut Street roundabout arm and the A2 Key Street approach, various capacity and safety improvements to the Keycol Hill arm and a new toucan crossing on the Sheppey Way arm.
Jackson expects the project to be finished by Friday 10 April.
The revamp is all part of a £38.6m infrastructure upgrade project, which also includes the Grovehurst Junction Improvement scheme.
That work is more than 18 months behind schedule and was £280,000 over budget. Kent County Council says the road network will have better pedestrian and cycling links and will be future-proofed for population rise once the project has been completed.
(Picture: Mapillary)
