Chestfield Tunnel on the A299 Thanet Way near Whitstable has been closed from today (Tuesday 11 June) following routine inspections which found a safety critical fault identified with the jet fans that control ventilation in the tunnel.
A KCC spokesperson said:
“Specialist engineers have been on site today to review the situation and make repairs to the fans where they can. The tunnels will remain closed for the remainder of this week while emergency works and further assessment of the situation take place. After which, a contraflow to reopen one lane of the tunnel will be introduced over the weekend, or sooner if possible.
“These vital jet fans are the primary safety system in the tunnel, ensuring fire crews can safely evacuate people in the event of a fire in the tunnel, as well as safely venting away traffic pollution.
“While we understand this is a huge inconvenience to residents, our first priority is public safety, which we take very seriously.”