Motorists are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys in and around Canterbury while the controversial Westgate Towers traffic scheme is reverted to its original layout.
Traffic signals were removed over the weekend and the road was resurfaced with new road markings.
The changes were introduced to protect the 14th century towers by reducing the number of vehicles going underneath.
The scheme is being removed following a year long trial. It could be re-introduced permanently after the results are assessed and the community are asked for their views.
Controversial Westgate Towers traffic scheme to end
A controversial traffic scheme devised to protect the Westgate Towers in Canterbury will finish at the end of its trial in March.
It was confirmed by Kent County Council today that the St Dunstan’s and Westgate Towers environmental improvements and traffic management trial will finish at the end of March and the road layout will return to its previous configuration.
It is fair to say the trial has divided the city andpeople on both sides of the argument raise many valid points in making theircase. But I want to stress that it is our belief that the trial has been the rightthing to do and that it should have been given more time for assessment. So we would have liked to haveseen the layout remain after March while all the data from the trialis analysed. This would have been more cost effective and caused the leastconfusion for motorists, so in these respects today’s news is disappointing.
– Cllr John Gilbey, Leader, Canterbury City Council
Reaction after Westgate Towers closure in Canterbury - Day 1
Assessment of today's closure of the Westgate Towers entrance to Canterbury in Kent from Councillor Peter Vickery-Jones. The move is part of the most radical change in the city's transport network for two decades.
First test for new road scheme after Westgate Towers closed
Canterbury's Westgate Towers entrance now closed to vehicles
Tuesday morning's rush hour will be the first test of a new scheme to reduce congestion in Canterbury. The city's historic Westgate Towers have been closed in the biggest change to traffic for twenty years. It is part of a twelve month experiment.
