A £1.7 million plan has been announced to tackle congestion on Medway City Estate.

Council bosses have revealed a new slip road is to be built to tackle almost daily problems during the evening rush-hour.

More than 6,000 people are employed on the giant business park in Strood.

The news follows a funding decision by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (Selep), which agreed cash from its local growth fund can be used to create the new road to bypass the roundabout from Anthonys Way, near McDonald's, onto Berwick Way.

Surveying and ground investigation works are to be carried out to finalise the plans, with work set to start at the end of next year.

Selep chairman Christian Brodie said: “The funding of these road improvements will help it operate more effectively.

“By improving the flow of traffic in and out of the estate, businesses located there, as well as those who supply it, will be more productive.”

The slip road is the latest stage in works to tackle congestion.

Phase one was completed in late 2017 and included the installation of traffic lights at the Medway Tunnel and alterations to the roundabout.

The council also put in additional loading and parking restrictions in January.

Portfolio holder for frontline services, Cllr Phil Filmer (Con) said: “We are committed to doing all we can to help improve journey times for people who work on Medway City Estate.

“I am pleased we have been successful in obtaining approval from Selep for the development and implementation of the phase two works which will introduce a dedicated slip road for motorists leaving the estate.

"We hope this will further alleviate congestion at peak times.”

Sales coordinator Amanda Hurrell, who works for estate-based Cambridge Research Systems, has long campaigned for more to be done.

Speaking about the news, she said it was good the council had listen to people's concerns and was taking some action.

However, she was unsure about the plan's effectiveness as she felt the congestion is caused by the level of traffic turning right at the roundabout to head through the tunnel. She added that it was worth looking again at a bridge across the river, a ferry service and issues surrounding the buses-only Riverside near the estate's other entrance at Whitewall Road.

The local authority submitted a business case to Selep after it consulted with estate businesses to get their views on what further measures were needed.

Selep is a business-led organisation which champions the economic growth of Kent, Essex, East Sussex, Medway, Southend and Thurrock.

For more information visit www.medway.gov.uk/cityestate

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