Kent County Council, working with Maidstone Borough Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, are pleased to announce positive progress regarding the delivery of the Maidstone Integrated Transport Package, following the Joint Transportation Board in October 2020.
It is the intention to undertake the package of junction improvements in a phased approach, starting in May 2021, which will make a real difference to congestion in the town. More details about the schemes and their delivery timescales can be found on the KCC website but they include improvements at Coldharbour roundabout, the A229 Corridor and Willington Street.
Helen Grant MP said:
“It is excellent news that projects to ease congestion across Maidstone will begin in the coming months. I applaud both Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council for their mutual cooperation in getting us to this important milestone.
“Reducing traffic in our town has always been one of my top priorities. A road network which is freed from the seemingly endless delays and disruption which used to characterise Maidstone at rush hour is of the upmost importance for residents and for businesses who are based in our town. I am particularly pleased that major improvements will be made along the A229 corridor; which should make the journey along the Loose Road much less painful during peak periods.
“I will, of course, be following the progress of these works extremely closely because their successful completion is essential if we are to keep Maidstone moving.”
Helen Whately MP said:
“People in Maidstone are fed up of sitting in traffic jams. I’ve called for action to tackle congestion in the town to be a top priority.
“Last year I called for Maidstone to get a plan for infrastructure in my submission to the latest Local Plan consultation. New housing and new infrastructure need to go hand in hand, especially when our roads are already so congested.
“I’m pleased that a number of local bottlenecks have been included in the Keeping Maidstone Moving schemes. I’ll continue to work with local councillors, our local enterprise partnership, and colleagues in Government to drive forward these improvements for local people.
“Improving the Ashford Road and Sutton Road junctions on Willington Street should make a big difference to people in these places – with less traffic and better air quality. I know there are other roads that need improving as well but this is a step in the right direction.”
SELEP Chair Christian Brodie said:
“Having awarded £8.9m from the Local Growth Fund to support delivery of the project, we are delighted to see these improvements progressing. We know the local authorities of Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council have worked really hard to identify a scheme which will make the biggest difference for businesses and residents.
“As the economy opens up in the coming months, our town centres will need all the support we can offer and reduced congestion in the area of Maidstone and a road network which supports the exciting opportunities for growth in Maidstone is really important.”
KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport Michael Payne said:
“Maidstone is the place where several key routes, A20, A26, A229 and A249, meet and connect with four junctions of the M20.
“I’m delighted that work will be starting on the Keep Maidstone Moving scheme which aims to reduce congestion, travel times and pollution.
“We have several schemes that take into account local development and other future growth, designed to relieve congestion and provide the necessary capacity to keep Maidstone moving.”
Councillor Martin Cox, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council and joint Chair of the Maidstone Strategic Infrastructure Working Group said:
“There is a long background to the Maidstone Integrated Transport Package of works. We have repeatedly expressed our concerns around the need to ensure adequate and timely mitigation to the highway network in order to deal with the pressures resulting from new development. Confirmation that work on these important improvements will begin in May of this year is of course very welcome. However it is critical that this now gathers pace and momentum, and is delivered in advance of the further improvements that will become necessary as part of the current review of our local plan, and the additional development that the Borough will need to provide for in order to meet government housing targets.”