Kent County Council (KCC) has submitted bids to the Government's Structures Fund seeking more than £100m to address critical issues on two key roads in the county.
The first bid seeks between £40.6m and £46.3m to restore the A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe, severed by a cliff collapse in April 2023. The closure has since increased traffic and reduced bus routes for communities in Swanscombe, Greenhithe and Ebbsfleet.
The second bid requests around £63m for the A299 between Whitstable and Ramsgate, covering tunnel refurbishments, overbridge repairs and carriageway reconstruction. Success would remove the current 50mph speed restriction and reduce the risk of unplanned closures on the strategically important east Kent route.
Peter Osborne, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: ‘We know how important these roads are to the people who use them every day – whether that’s getting to work, running a business or staying connected with family and friends.
‘This funding would help us fix long standing problems, prevent future closures and give local communities the confidence that these routes are safe and reliable for the long term. We have made a strong case for the funding, and I hope the government sees just how important this is for communities in Kent.’
