Five weeks of closures of A249 in Kent

The A249 in Kent is set to be closed for five weeks as part of the M2 Junction 5 improvement scheme as we construct the new A249 carriageway to the south of Stockbury Roundabout.

To safely carry out this work, the southbound A249 carriageway (towards Maidstone) between the Stockbury Roundabout and Church Hill will be closed for five weeks. These closures will be put in place from Friday 23 February to Saturday 30 March 2024. To minimise disruption, two lanes will be kept open heading towards the roundabout from Maidstone.

There will also be an overnight closure on the northbound carriageway between the M20 Junction 7 and Stockbury Roundabout from 8pm Friday 16 February to 5am Monday 19 February 2024 for preparation work.
The same stretch of road will also be closed overnight from Sunday 10 March to Monday 11 March 2024 and again overnight on Thursday 28 March and Friday 29 March between 8pm and 5am each night.

At the same time, National Highways will also take the opportunity to build the new London-bound exit slip road. This should also encourage drivers to stay on the M2 and reduce traffic arriving at the Stockbury Roundabout while the southbound A249 is closed. This slip road will also be closed for the duration of this five-week period.

Closure information
❎ Friday 16 to Monday 19 February – A249 northbound weekend closure
The A249 northbound will be closed between the M20 junction 7 and the Stockbury Roundabout from 8pm Friday 16 February to 5am Monday 19 February for preparation work.
Diversion:
Signed diversions via the M20, A229, M2 and A249. For non-motorway traffic, please use the A249, A229, A2 and A249.

❎ Monday 19 February to Saturday 30 March – closure of Church Hill exit
When the A249 northbound reopens on Monday 19 February, the Church Hill exit will remain closed until 5am Saturday 30 March. This will allow to build the new junction with Church Hill.
Diversion:
Use Chalky Road to join the A249.

❎ Friday 23 February to Saturday 30 March – A249 southbound closure
The A249 southbound will be closed from the Stockbury Roundabout to Church Hill, along with the M2 junction 5 London-bound exit slip, from 8pm Friday 23 February to 5am Saturday 30 March. There will be no access to the A249 from Oad Street or South Green Lane during this time.
Diversion:
a signed diversion will be in place via the M2, A229, M20 and A249. For non-motorway traffic, please use A249, A2, A229, A249.
To leave the M2 London-bound and join the A249 towards Sittingbourne, stay on the M2 to junction 4 and return to junction 5 on the coastbound carriageway.

❎ Sunday 10, Thursday 28 and Friday 29 March – A249 northbound overnight closures
The A249 northbound will be closed between M20 junction 7 and the Stockbury Roundabout from 8pm Sunday 10 March to 5am Monday 11 March to move northbound traffic onto the southbound carriageway.
The A249 northbound will then be closed between M20 junction 7 and the Stockbury Roundabout overnight again on Thursday 28 March and Friday 29 March between 8pm and 5am each night.
Diversion:
please use the M20, A229, M2 and A249. For non-motorway traffic please use the A249, A229, A2 and A249.
When the road reopens at 5am on Saturday 30 March, both sides of the A249 will be open.
While the A249 is closed, work will also be conducted on the southern links to the upgraded junction, including:
• The A249 southbound (towards Maidstone) exit from the Stockbury Roundabout
• The northbound (towards Sheppey) A249 on to the Stockbury flyover.
• The South Green link road that will connect South Green Lane and Oad Street to the Stockbury Roundabout.
• The M2 London-bound exit slip.