Electrical works on A20 London Road by Coldharbour Roundabout in Maidstone causes delays on Hermitage Lane
16:39, 12 June 2024
A lane closure on a busy road is causing long delays for drivers and patients heading to a hospital.
Electricity supply works on the A20 London Road in Maidstone are set to go on for more than three weeks.
It started on Monday (June 10) and is being carried out by UK Power Networks.
The eastbound carriageway between Hermitage Lane and Coldharbour Roundabout has been shut to allow for a new service connection to be installed.
Kent County Council (KCC) posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, warning drivers to expect delays in the area.
@KaytPritch replied: “Does the whole lane need to be coned off as far down as it is?
“Took half an hour to get off the retail estate because nothing could turn right.
“Seems a lot of lane closure with nothing going on. Absolutely not sustainable until 2nd July!”
It is also affecting those wanting to get to South Aylesford Retail Park, McDonald’s or Aldi, as well as Maidstone Hospital along Hermitage Lane.
“Roadworks at the A20 Coldharbour Roundabout in Maidstone are causing traffic delays in the area, particularly at peak times,” a spokesperson from the NHS Trust said.
“If you are travelling to Maidstone Hospital, please plan ahead and leave extra time for your journey.”
Motorists took to a local Facebook group to share their frustrations.
One person said: “Avoid Hermitage Lane going down to London Road – queuing all the way back to Tonbridge Road.”
Another claimed it took them 25 minutes to get from Tonbridge Road to McDonald’s, which is a distance of 1.8 miles.
The work is set to go on for approximately three weeks – until Tuesday, July 2.
UK Power Networks has been contacted for a comment.
Travel times are also being affected by multiple road closures in Barming and Wateringbury.
Farleigh Lane and Station Hill – including East Farleigh Bridge – are all shut for pothole repairs.
They are expected to reopen tomorrow (June 13).
Emergency gas works on A26 Tonbridge Road, by the Wateringbury crossroads, have just been extended until next Wednesday (June 19).
It comes after SGN confirmed it had completed its repairs, but said it needed to carry out further work to abandon some old gas mains.
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