Work on a new £2.5 million bus interchange in Gravesend will start next week.

Kent County Council has revealed its plans to improve the transport connections between rail, bus and bike and link-in with the Rathmore Road scheme.

The improvements in Barrack Row and Garrick Street include:

• four new bus stops in Barrack Row
• more pedestrianised space and prioritized crossings
• new public toilets in Barrack Row paid for and provided by Gravesham Borough Council
• two Fastrack stops and Sapphire service improvements in Garrick Street
• provision for an electric bus charging point
• new seating and bus canopies.

The work, to be carried out by FM Conway, is due to begin on June 14 and is expected to be completed early next year.

It is the final phase of the Gravesend Transport Quarter master plan which has seen Community Square developed and the re-routing of the one-way system around Woodville Place and the re-routing of the one-way traffic system along a new Rathmore Road.

KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport David Brazier said: “As chairman of the council in 2018, I was delighted to officially open the new Rathmore Road and now I am gratified to see the final phase of our vision in improving the transport interchange at Gravesend.

“By improving the transport infrastructure, we’re aiming to reduce congestion by making sustainable transport a real alternative to the car.

“It takes a lot of effort and commitment to take a scheme as big as this from concept, through planning and on to construction, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work.

“Inevitably there will be periods of inconvenience during construction and I would be grateful for the patience of local businesses and residents as this scheme will make a real difference to getting around Gravesend in the future.”

Gravesham council leader Cllr John Burden said: “This long-awaited scheme will bring many benefits to Gravesend town centre, not least reducing congestion which in turn will have a direct impact on improving air quality and make a contribution to our target of becoming a carbon neutral borough by 2030.

“To meet that target we need to encourage people to leave their cars at home when visiting Gravesend, and a modern, clean and easy to navigate transport interchange is fundamental to that.

“We look forward to the project’s opening next year.”

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