Two turns at North Dane Way, Lordswood, are banned from 26 October to 10 April while its roundabout is rebuilt. Boxley Road shuts for 16 weeks from 16 November.

Drivers in Lordswood and Princes Park face nearly six months of banned turns on North Dane Way, which began on Monday 26 October. Medway Council plans to remove the roundabout on North Dane Way at Princes Avenue and rebuild the junction.

Updated 28 October: the council has now made the North Dane Way order, in a notice dated 22 October. The dates are unchanged: both turn bans run to 10 April 2027, and the road shuts from 7 to 10 April. The Boxley Road closure was not in that batch and is still an order the council intends to make.

The council set out the plan in a traffic notice dated 15 October. It describes “major highway works”. They include removing the existing roundabout and traffic islands, putting in new traffic islands, resurfacing and new road markings.

It is one of three long jobs booked on the same side of Chatham this autumn. Boxley Road in Walderslade is due to close for 16 weeks from 16 November, and bus stop works start on Heron Way during half term.

What changes on North Dane Way, and when

The notice sets out three restrictions:

Restriction When What to do instead
No right turn from Shawstead Road into North Dane Way 26 October 2026 to 10 April 2027 Carry on south to the mini-roundabout near Judkins Close and come back north
No left turn from Heron Way into Princes Avenue 26 October 2026 to 10 April 2027 Go north to Capstone Road and come back south
North Dane Way closed to all traffic, from about 50 metres south of Shawstead Road to about 100 metres north of Princes Avenue 7 to 10 April 2027 Follow the signed diversion (below)

The full closure comes at the very end. For the four days in April, the main diversion is a long loop: Capstone Road, Luton High Street, Luton Road, Chatham Hill, New Road, Maidstone Road, Horsted Way, the A229, Maidstone Road, Walderslade Woods and Lords Wood Lane, in both directions. Eastbound traffic is sent along Heron Way, Swallow Rise, Princes Avenue and Robin Hood Lane to join it.

The council first published this as an order it intended to make, and made it on 22 October. The notice says the restrictions are “expected to end on Saturday, 10 April 2027”.

Boxley Road shut for 16 weeks from 16 November

The same batch of notices books a long closure in Walderslade. Boxley Road is to close to all vehicles from its junction with Robin Hood Lane to its junction with Dale Court, for gas mains replacement.

  • Starts: on or after Monday 16 November 2026
  • Length: “programmed for completion within 16 weeks”, which runs into March
  • Diversion: via Robin Hood Lane, Fostington Way and Walderslade Woods, or Beechen Bank Road, in both directions
  • On foot: pedestrians are not affected

This is also an order the council intends to make. The notice does not name the gas network doing the work.

Heron Way bus stops from half term

Separately, the council has posted a scheme notice for bus stop and crossing works on Heron Way and Swallow Rise. The work covers Heron Way from Wiltshire Close to Swallow Rise, then Swallow Rise as far as Illustrious Close and Maundene School.

  • Work near Maundene School starts in the week of Monday 26 October, while the school is on half term
  • The rest then takes six to eight weeks
  • Hours are Monday to Saturday, 7am to 7pm
  • Footpaths and some bus stops close for spells, and parking is restricted near the works

The work adds dropped kerbs for pedestrians, raised kerbs at bus stops, new road markings and better signs. The council says it will help pedestrians “use the public bus service more easily”.

What it means for you

  • If you come out of Shawstead Road to head north on North Dane Way, from 26 October you will have to go south to the Judkins Close mini-roundabout first and turn back.
  • If you turn left from Heron Way into Princes Avenue, plan on going up to Capstone Road and back instead.
  • Put 7 to 10 April 2027 in the diary. That is when North Dane Way itself shuts, with a long diversion.
  • If you use Boxley Road, expect it to be shut from mid November until about March.
  • Maundene School families: the works outside the school start in half term, then move along Heron Way and Swallow Rise.

Questions about the traffic orders go to the council’s traffic management team on 01634 331165, or traffic.management@medway.gov.uk. The Heron Way scheme has its own line: 01634 333333, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Every other closure in the towns this fortnight, including the A2 in Rainham from Thursday night, is on our Medway roadworks and travel page. If you drive to the Capstone tip, check our Medway tip opening times before you set off.

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