Kingsferry Bridge closure causes gridlock on northbound A249 from Key Street, in Bobbing to the B2005 Swale Way/Kemsley turn-off

Motorists are facing lengthy delays as the closure of a bridge has stalled traffic.

Vehicles have been left at a standstill on the northbound A249 from Key Street, in Bobbing to the B2005 Swale Way/Kemsley turn-off following the closure of the Kingsferry Bridge.

Further delays have also been building up on the B2006 back to Eurolink Way after the bridge connecting the Isle of Sheppey with mainland was closed on Friday (July 19).

The bridge will be shut to motorists, trains, pedestrians, cyclists and maritime traffic for 10 days as work continues to replace its degraded ropes.

During a weekend closure in June, Network Rail’s engineers completed the replacement of the counterweight ropes on the Sheppey side of the bridge.

These stabilise the bridge deck when it lifts for ships.

At the end of last month, the lifting ropes on the Sheppey side of the crossing were replaced during another week-long closure.

These works left large parts of Sittingbourne and Sheppey at a standstill.

The ropes were last replaced almost 30 years ago and are now coming to the end of their operational life.

The bridge is due to reopen on Sunday, July 28.