by Alan Smith

ajsmith@thekmgroup.co.uk

The Olympic torch may have been abled to halt Maidstone's 50-week gas works. But anyone looking for Knightrider Street to be reopened to traffic today when work resumed was going to be disappointed.
Although Southern Gas Networks completed laying the new gas main there two weeks ago, and the original scheduled date for reopening the road – July 3 – has now passed, it is to remain closed until Wednesday, October 3.
The decision to keep the street closed to traffic was taken by KCC in consultation with Maidstone council and Maidstone Town Centre Management.
SGN site manager John Adsley said: “Keeping Knightrider Street closed will assist traffic flows during phase 2 of the project. Extension of the closure will allow traffic lights at Lower Stone Street and Mill Street to give priority to through traffic.
“We will add signage to reinforce the message that businesses in Knightrider Street are open as usual and to address the problem of traffic using Campbell Road instead of the diversion route.”
When work resumes, Lower Stone Street will be restricted to one lane, causing delays for south-bound traffic.