Lane closure at Swanley Interchange temporarily removed after traffic chaos

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 18:26 · Archive

A lane closure at Swanley Interchange has been temporarily removed after causing severe traffic delays.

A lane closure at Swanley Interchange caused severe traffic congestion on 2 November after National Highways began improvement works at the roundabout. Motorists and school buses were stuck in traffic for hours on the approach to the junction.

The inner lane was scheduled to close from that date to allow temporary traffic management measures to be installed. However, foggy weather on 31 October prevented installation of these measures. Despite this, National Highways proceeded with the lane closure anyway, leaving no traffic management in place. MP Laura Trott said National Highways 'informed me that due to fog on Friday they were unable to put in place the temporary traffic management - but still put in the lane closure - and this is what led to traffic grinding to a halt this morning'.

Following discussions between Trott, Swanley Town Council and National Highways, the lane closure was removed. National Highways accepted the decision to close the lane without proper traffic management 'should not have happened' and apologised to those delayed. The closure will not be reinstalled for at least the rest of the week.

Over the coming weekend, temporary traffic management measures will be installed at the interchange without an initial lane closure so traffic flows can be monitored.

Lane closure at Swanley Interchange temporarily removed after traffic chaos — Image: This Is Local London

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How it is being reported

Major update on Swanley Interchange as drivers stuck for hours in 'utter chaos'A lane closure at Swanley Interchange has been temporarily removed after it caused "utter carnage" for drivers.This Is Local London · 2 Nov, 18:00
Major update on Swanley Interchange as drivers stuck for hours in 'utter chaos'A lane closure at Swanley Interchange has been temporarily removed after it caused "utter carnage" for drivers.News Shopper · 2 Nov, 18:00

In this story: Swanley Interchange · National Highways · Laura Trott · Swanley · Swanley Town Council

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