Kingsferry Bridge linking Isle of Sheppey to Sittingbourne reopens

A bridge linking the Isle of Sheppey to the mainland has reopened, bringing some good news to motorists after a week of traffic hell.

Kingsferry Bridge, the smaller of the two Sheppey crossings, was reopened this morning following eight days of work to replace 40 steel ropes that lift it.

Built by British Rail in 1960, the bridge is used by motorists and pedestrians to travel to and from the rest of the county, and is the only route trains can use to get across The Swale.

It comes following a week of traffic chaos in Sheppey and Sittingbourne where school buses were cancelled after delays of up to three hours.

The Swale towns became very quickly clogged on Monday and Tuesday after accidents in the area during rush hour.

The problem was exacerbated by road closures elsewhere, with a lane of the approach on the A249 down to one lane due to works at the Grovehurst junction.

Chestnut Street on the A2 at Key Street was also closed in both directions for utilities.

Let's Go Green Cabs, based in Sittingbourne, apologised to its customers waiting for their taxis during what it called “gridlock”.

Kevin Smith, office manager at the taxi firm, said that he had no bookings on Wednesday when they normally have around 40 to 50 between 3pm and 5pm – their busiest time of day.

A Network Rail spokesman said the repairs would avoid a “sudden” and “disruptive unplanned” closure over the winter.

However, work is not completed yet – further closures are due to take place from Friday, July 12 until Monday, July 15.

Another nine-day closure will then be enforced from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 28.

All closures will start at 10pm on the first day and finish at 5am on the last.

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

During a weekend closure last month, 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 shipping.

The latest set of works saw the lifting ropes on the Sheppey side of the crossing replaced whilst the counterweight and lifting ropes on the mainland side of the bridge will be replaced during the upcoming closures.

When work is happening, the bridge will be closed to motorists, rail passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and all maritime traffic, including jet skis and other leisure craft.