Gilligham road closed for 18 days as full diversion routes outlined

The road has been plagued by closures this year and there’s more pain for drivers as roadworks are due begin later this month

Full diversion details have now been confirmed as a key stretch of a busy road in Medway is due to close at the end of July. Medway Council has announced that a section of the B2004 Lower Rainham Road, which runs between Gillingham and Rainham, will close from Monday, July 29.

The closure, set to be in place from Berengrave Lane to Pomeroy Avenue, will then remain for a total of two and a half weeks until Thursday, August 15. During this time, works will be completed to install new raised tables and kerbs while the existing road is resurfaced.

“No additional works will be allowed in the nearby area (or on the diversion route) as part of our Network Management Duty to maintain as much of the public highway as possible,” a Medway Council spokeswoman continued. The only exceptions would be urgent projects and previously scheduled tasks.

There will be a detour route in place for traffic to use when the main highway between the two Medway towns is closed. The A289 Yokosuka Way, Ito Way, A2 Sovereign Boulevard, A2 London Road, A2 High Street, and Otterham Quay Lane will be the routes used to reroute traffic off Lower Rainham Road. Traffic heading in the other direction can use this diversion route in reverse.

There have been numerous closures along Lower Rainham Road since 2024 began, for instance between the end of May and start of June for drainage works. Prior to this, the route was shut in March at the junction with Pump Lane for SGN works. In fact, these works came just weeks after Lower Rainham Road re-opened following an emergency closure from UK Power Networks that took place in February.

In May, traders in Rainham said continuous roadworks in the area had caused them to lose thousands of pounds as shoppers were avoiding the area. The news of the latest closure has been met with frustration from the community. One Medway resident responded: “Sure this road has been closed more than it’s been open this year.” Another quipped: “Well, it has been open for a few weeks, so it was due for another closure.”