National Highways has announced that it will be conducting a series of works to the footbridge over the A21 in Tonbridge.
The road, which is a major highway between Lewisham and Hastings, will be impacted by diversions over the autumn, as works are carried out from September 8 until November 6 of this year.
The project spanning over three months will see the existing footbridge removed and replaced with a wider, safer crossing, bringing the new bridge in line with modern headroom standards and limiting the risk of accidental strikes by higher vehicles.
As part of the project, National Highways has announced a series of overnight closures, full weekend closures, and ongoing lane restrictions.
Lane closures in both directions will remain in place throughout the works, with a reduced speed limit of 50mph.
Overnight closures will be in place between 8pm and 6am as follows:
September
- September 8 and 9 – Southbound closed between Morley’s roundabout and Vauxhall roundabout.
- September 10 and 11 – Northbound closed between Vauxhall roundabout and Morley’s roundabout.
- September 15 to 18 – Northbound closed between Vauxhall roundabout and Morley’s roundabout.
- September 18 – Southbound closed between Chipstead junction and Vauxhall roundabout.
- September 19 and 20 – Southbound closed between Morley’s roundabout and Vauxhall roundabout.
October
- October 24 to 26 – Northbound closed between Vauxhall roundabout and Morley’s roundabout.
- October 27 to 30 – Southbound closed between Morley’s roundabout and Vauxhall roundabout.
November
- November 3 – Southbound closed between Chipstead junction and Vauxhall roundabout.
- November 4 – Southbound closed between Morley’s roundabout and Vauxhall roundabout.
- November 5 and 6 – Northbound closed between Vauxhall roundabout and Morley’s roundabout.
Full weekend closures (8pm Friday – 6am Monday):
- September 12 to 15 – Both directions closed between Morley’s and Vauxhall roundabouts to remove the old bridge.
- October 31 to November 3 – Both directions closed between Morley’s and Vauxhall roundabouts to install the new bridge.
Diversion Routes
During the closures, drivers will be directed to follow signed diversion routes:
- Southbound closures between Morley’s roundabout and Vauxhall roundabout: via B245 London Road, A227, A227 Bordyke, Harlow Road, A26 Cannon Lane, A26 Vale Road, and A26 Woodgate Way, rejoining the A21.
- Northbound closures between Vauxhall roundabout and Morley’s roundabout: via A26 Woodgate Way, A26 Vale Road, A26 Cannon Lane, Harlow Road, A227 Bordyke, A227, and B245 London Road, rejoining the A21.
- Southbound closures between Chipstead junction and Vauxhall roundabout: via A25, A224, A225, B245 London Road, A227, A227 Bordyke, Harlow Road, A26 Cannon Lane, A26 Vale Road, and A26 Woodgate Way, rejoining the A21.
- Full weekend closures (both directions): northbound drivers advised to join the A228 at Pembury, then use the M20/M26 to connect with the M25.
Travel Advice
National Highways is urging drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys.
A spokesperson for National Highways said: “We recognise these closures will cause disruption, but replacing the bridge now will avoid unexpected closures in the future and ensure a safer, better experience for pedestrians.”
