Coldharbour Roundabout
Construction of the Coldharbour Roundabout scheme is due to begin on 12 February 2024.
The A20 Coldharbour roundabout will be enlarged and additional lanes created on the approaches to improve capacity.
The existing traffic signals will be removed and entry onto the roundabout will be changed to give way control.
The scheme is expected to improve capacity of the Coldharbour Roundabout by 60% in the morning peak period and 40% in the evening peak period.
We will also:
- replace and upgrade the drainage system
- install new street lighting and signage
- resurface the carriageway.
The existing trees on the roundabout will be removed, with approximately 40 trees being removed across the project. To mitigate this loss, approximately 70 trees are being replanted as part of the landscaping works that will be carried out at the end of the project.
View the proposed layout drawing (PDF, 1011.4 KB).
Changes to the Coldharbour Roundabout were consulted on as part of the Keep Maidstone Moving schemes, designed to reduce congestion, travel times and pollution in Maidstone.
Scheme costs
Coldharbour Roundabout is part of the Maidstone Integrated Transport Package (MITP). The MITP is a wider package of highway schemes expected to cost £13.9 million in total, of which £8.9 million has been secured from the Local Growth Fund obtained from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.
The remaining costs will be funded by Section 106 developer contributions from nearby housing developments. The cost of the Coldharbour Roundabout scheme is £5m.
Considerable growth is planned in this area, including the 'Whitepost Fields' development, which will increase congestion between Maidstone and Ditton. Improvements are needed to the roundabout to reduce congestion, improve journey times and support the M20 smart motorway.
Scheme objectives
The scheme objectives are to improve:
- the efficiency of the roundabout thereby relieving congestion
- journey times and the reliability of journey times for those travelling through the roundabout
- air quality in the area
- access to the 20-20 Business Park and South Aylesford Retail Park
- the capacity on the road network to accommodate further development.
Formal decision
The approval to progress the scheme was taken by Kent County Council on 16 October 2019.
The decision by the SELEP Accountability Board to grant Local Growth Funding for the MITP was made on the 15 June 2018.
Initial lane closures will be between 9:30am and 3:30pm so site teams can carry out surveys and install access to the site from the 12 February for up to 4 weeks.
Lane closures will also be in place between 7pm and 6am for additional works to be completed on the existing roundabout island.
Future traffic management will be completed during similar off-peak times to minimise disruption as much as possible.
The Contract for the construction of the project has been awarded to Breheny Civil Engineering Ltd.
Forecasted timescales
- Works start - 12 February 2024
- Project completed - December 2024.
Coldharbour roundabout community information leaflet (PDF, 2.4 MB).
Newsletters
Edition 8 - September and October 2024 (PDF, 821.3 KB)
Edition 7 - August 2024 (PDF, 5.2 MB)
Edition 6 - July 2024 (PDF, 3.9 MB)
Edition 5 - June 2024 (PDF, 6.7 MB)
Edition 4 - May 2024 (PDF, 744.3 KB)
Edition 3 - April 2024 (PDF, 4.8 MB)
Email A20ColdharbourRoundabout@kent.gov.uk for further information.
Funded by
The government Growth Deal provides money to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, funding projects which drive Kent’s economic and business growth.
