Potential Isolation of Iwade Village Due to Major Road Closures

The village of Iwade, located on a key bus route, could become isolated due to two significant road closures occurring simultaneously.

Swale-based bus operator Chalkwell Coach Hire has warned that ongoing work at the Grovehurst roundabout junction will disrupt its services. At the same time, Network Rail will close the Kingsferry Bridge later this month for essential maintenance.

Chalkwell Coach Hire's managing director, Roland Eglinton, explained that the 334 bus, which travels between Sittingbourne and Sheerness, will face severe challenges. The 64-year-old Kingsferry Bridge, connecting Sheppey to the mainland, requires the replacement of 40 steel ropes. This bridge repair will overlap with the £32.7 million project at Grovehurst junction, where the current dumbbell design is being replaced with a single roundabout.

The Kingsferry Bridge will be closed to all traffic, including motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and maritime traffic, from 10 PM on Friday, June 7, until 5 AM on Monday, June 10. Additional closures will follow from June 28 to July 7, July 12 to July 15, and July 19 to July 28, with the same timing.

These simultaneous closures mean that buses will be unable to travel north from Iwade towards Sheppey. The only alternative route involves looping back to the Bobbing junction, causing significant delays and potential traffic gridlock.

Network Rail and Kent County Council Highways, responsible for the Grovehurst junction project, stated that the Kingsferry Bridge cables must be replaced every 30 years for safety reasons. Unfortunately, these works cannot be rescheduled.

Eglinton expressed concern about the lack of coordination between the two projects, which could leave Iwade residents without reliable bus access. He emphasized the company's commitment to ensuring children reach school on time, with morning school bus journeys starting 15 minutes earlier during the disruptions.

Chalkwell Coach Hire has requested additional support from Network Rail to mitigate the impact, but no assistance has been confirmed. Passengers are advised to check Chalkwell's website and social media for updates.

A Network Rail spokesperson emphasized the urgency of the bridge repairs due to safety concerns. As a taxpayer-funded organization, they cannot compensate private businesses affected by the closures.