A lane closure is set to be removed on a busy crossing which has caused traffic chaos.

Kent County Council (KCC) has instructed its contractor working on the Grovehurst Road Improvement Scheme to fully reopen the Sheppey Crossing while alternative traffic management arrangements are being considered.

At the moment, the A249 is reduced to one lane southbound towards Stockbury, between the Cowstead Corner roundabout on the Isle of Sheppey and the A249 at the Grovehurst Road junction in Sittingbourne.

The work started on Friday, October 13 and has lasted for several weeks – causing a number of headaches for both commuters and residents.

It also led to hundreds of pupils arriving late to school after sitting on buses for more than an hour-and-a-half.

Following the completion of the roadworks, the single lane closure on the southbound carriageway is now set to be removed next Wednesday evening (November 15).

It will now be rephased so that construction of the new bridge at the Grovehurst junction, which requires a lane closure of the southbound carriageway, will start in early January 2024.

KCC says it will work with National Highways to provide a safe traffic management system that can be put in place, which “minimises disruption as far as possible”.

The single lane closure on the northbound A249, towards the Isle of Sheppey, between the A249 at the Bobbing junction and the Grovehurst Road junction, will remain in place while work is concentrated on that side of the road.

KCC’s cabinet member for Highways and Transport Neil Baker said: “The A249 Grovehurst Road Improvement Scheme will see a new bridge built over the dual carriageway below, helping to enable growth, reduce congestion and make journey times more reliable.

“We understand the single lane closure over the southbound Sheppey Crossing has been disruptive for people.”

“We understand the single lane closure over the southbound Sheppey Crossing has been disruptive for people.

“That is why we have asked our contractor to rearrange the way they work so we can minimise disruption as far as possible.

“Safety is our priority and in early January we expect that we will have to reinstate the single lane closure, but we are working with National Highways to find a way in which we can safely reduce queuing time where possible.”