Improvements aiming to reduce the amount of crashes along Luton Road are well underway, with the route closed to motorists and buses running on diversion for the next two weeks. Luton Road and Luton High Street between Castle Road and Street End Road remain shut to traffic until Friday, 27 August. The upgrades will see the pedestrian crossing outside Luton Primary School widened, as well as the construction of a new raised table traffic calming feature to slow down motorists. Other elements of the project include a new pedestrian crossing island near the junction with Upper Luton Road, relocated bus stops and improved street lighting. A diversion is in place that takes motorists along the A2 to Bowaters Roundabout, along Hoath Way to Hempstead Road and then back towards Luton down Pear Tree Lane and Capstone Road. Arriva buses are also running on diversion due to the road closure, which affects services 166, 169, 113, 177 and 179. Bus service 176 is not affected. Buses will not be able to pick up or drop off passengers between Street End Road and Castle Road in either direction.
This means that the Wayfield area of Chatham will not be served by buses for the duration of the closure. Following the road closure, temporary traffic lights will be in place at both Upper Luton Road and Ambrose Hill junctions from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday until Friday, 3 September.
The second phase of the project will see Luton Road close again for a week from Monday, 25 October - during the school half term - between 7am and 7pm for resurfacing. The improvements are being carried out due to a worrying number of crashes in Luton Road, which includes an 18-year-old who suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car driver in 2017. The project currently has a budget of £120,000 and is being completed by Medway Council's contractor VolkerHighways. Any questions or issues can be raised to the workforce on site or by calling Medway Council's Customer Contact Centre on 01634 333333. While I understand the need for improvement I really cannot fathom why you haven’t opened up the barriers such as Albany road and others to relieve the traffic from that area. If you have to close them on completion so be it but for short term this would’ve been sensible Comments are closed.
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August 2023
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