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Oad Street, Sittingbourne, to close as A249 Stockbury roundabout work continues at M2 Junction 5

A well-used route off the A249 is being closed this weekend as work continues on the multi-million pound Stockbury Roundabout revamp.

Oad Street, by Borden near Sittingbourne, is shut for surfacing and white lining works.

How the new Stockbury Roundabout could look from Oad Street
How the new Stockbury Roundabout could look from Oad Street

It will be fully closed between Pett Lane and the A249 from 8pm tomorrow until 5am on Monday, March 27.

A diversion route via the A249 Sheppey-bound to Key Street roundabout, eastbound onto the A2 London Road then south onto Borden Lane to re-join Oad Street is in place.

It is the same in reverse for motorists travelling in the other direction.

A National Highways spokesman said: "While Oad Street is closed, businesses will be open as usual and can be accessed using the diversion route."

For more details click here.

When Oad Street was closed in 2022
When Oad Street was closed in 2022

Last year Oad Street was planned to be closed for six-weeks as part of the project to improve the Stockbury roundabout and the M2 Junction 5.

In May it was extended for another two-weeks despite being "extremely disruptive".

Due to the issues caused by the past closures, one business is dreading this weekend's work.

Vicky Killick, a manager at Pett Road-based Cherry Tree Farm, said: "This closure will affect us because we have a lot of agricultural stock coming to us, and that's causing congestion.

"All it's doing is causing traffic problems to the other lanes, so people can't drive and reverse properly when they need to.

Pett Lane where it connects with Oad Street. Picture: Google Maps
Pett Lane where it connects with Oad Street. Picture: Google Maps

"National Highway's communication is just us being told that it will be shutting whenever, but I don't think they are taking care of the surrounding landscape.

"All the town traffic comes through these smaller lanes, and it's causing damage to the roads with lots of potholes which nobody is aware of.

"The lanes are not being maintained which is frustrating for those living nearby, and even though it's not as bad on a Saturday and Sunday, it's still causing problems."

Another business owner in the area feels the constant closures are "annoying" and "dangerous".

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's mental how fast some of the drivers who don't know these little roads drive when they have to come here because of the diversions.

'It's not fair that businesses have to suffer again...'

"It makes me really anxious, as I have seen an accident already happen when they closed it for a few weeks before.

"It's bad enough getting here from Maidstone as it is, so it's not fair that businesses like us have to suffer again, especially as I don't even know if it will be any better once it's complete."

Part of the A249 will also be closed this weekend.

The road heading towards Maidstone will also be shut between the Stockbury roundabout and Bobbing from 8pm tomorrow until 5am on Monday.

The spokesman added: "During the recent A249 weekend and overnight closures, we’ve managed to do most of the drainage works and construction of the new concrete central reservation.

When Oad Street was closed in 2022
When Oad Street was closed in 2022

"We’ve also been busy preparing the carriageway and getting it ready to tie into the new southbound merge.

"Our closures are still going ahead as planned this weekend."

During the closures, there will be intermittent lane closures on the A249 Sheppey-bound between Bobbing and the Stockbury roundabout, with a lane remaining open.

Last week other weekday closures of the A249 were cancelled "thanks to work carried out over the weekend".

However, despite this closures of a major route have still been extended.

A spokesman previously said: "There are some additional week night and weekend closures until early April.

"We appreciate these additional closures will have an impact on drivers and the local community, but by doing them now, it means fewer closures and less disruption in the future."

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