Work to create a new slip road to ease congestion on the Medway City Estate is due to begin.

The business estate in Strood has been blighted by traffic jams for many years. At its worst, motorists were queuing for up to three hours just to travel one mile during the evening rush hour.

Medway Council secured £1.7million from the government’s Local Growth Fund (LGF), through the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), to create a new slip road to bypass the roundabout from Medway City Estate onto Berwick Way.

The project aims to help drivers leave the estate more easily during peak times.

Jackson Civil Engineering will be carrying out the works, which are due to begin on Monday, September 13. The new slip road is expected to be completed in early 2022.

A temporary 30mph speed limit will be in place on Berwick Way and a lane closure will be in place, whilst the works are carried out.

In 2018 the council consulted with businesses on the estate to get their views on what further measures could be put in place to help ease congestion.

Following the consultation, traffic lights were installed on the approach to the tunnel to help traffic flow at the roundabout.

Additional loading and parking restrictions were put in place in January 2019 to stop lorries blocking the roads.

Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for frontline services, said: “I am pleased that works will soon begin on a dedicated slip road for motorists leaving Medway City Estate.

"We are committed to doing everything we can to help improve journey times for people who work on the estate and we hope the new slip road will further alleviate congestion at peak times.

"Our contractor will do all they can to reduce the impact the works will have on traffic in the area and I’d like to thank motorists for their patience and understanding whilst the works take place.”

South East LEP chair Christian Brodie said: “This project will make the commute much easier for workers in this area, reducing congestion on the estate and future-proofing the road network for years to come.

"As businesses reopen and more people begin travelling back to work, we are pleased that work is under way to improve peak-time traffic.”

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