Work on a new £2.5 million bus interchange in Gravesend will start this month.
Kent County Council has revealed its plans to improve the transport connections between rail, bus and bike and link-in with the Rathmore Road scheme.
The improvements in Barrack Row and Garrick Street include:
- four new bus stops in Barrack Row
- more pedestrianised space and prioritized crossings
- new public toilets in Barrack Row paid for and provided by Gravesham Borough Council
- two Fastrack stops and sapphire service improvements on Garrick Street
- provision for an electric bus charging point
- new quality seating and bus canopies
David Brazier
Construction by FM Conway is due to begin on June 14 and is expected to be completed in early 2022. It is the final phase of the Gravesend Transport Quarter master plan.
This included the Community Square and re-routing of the one-way system around Woodville Place and the re-routing of the one-way traffic system flows along the new Rathmore Road.
KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport David Brazier said: “As Chairman of the council in 2018, I was delighted to officially open the new Rathmore Road and now I am gratified to see the final phase of our vision in improving the transport interchange at Gravesend.
“By improving the transport infrastructure, we’re aiming to reduce congestion by making sustainable transport a real alternative to the car.
“It takes a lot of effort and commitment to take a scheme as big as this from concept, through planning and on to construction, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work.
“Inevitably there will be periods of inconvenience during construction and I would be grateful for the patience of local businesses and residents as this scheme will make a real difference to getting around Gravesend in the future.”
Cllr John Burden, Leader of Gravesham Borough Council, said: “This long-awaited scheme will bring many benefits to Gravesend town centre, not least reducing congestion which in turn will have a direct impact on improving air quality and make a contribution to our target of becoming a carbon neutral Borough by 2030.
“To meet that target we need to encourage people to leave their cars at home when visiting Gravesend, and a modern, clean and easy to navigate transport interchange is fundamental to that.
“We look forward to the project’s opening next year.”