Badsell Road in Paddock Wood closes day and night from 19 to 30 October for the junction rebuild. The diversion, access to Mascalls Park, and the 209 day order behind it.

Badsell Road in Paddock Wood will close for twelve days from Monday 19 October. The closure covers the stretch between the B2160 Maidstone Road and Morgan Way. It runs continuously, through the nights and the weekend of 24 and 25 October, until Friday 30 October.

The dates come from the contractor, Breheny Civil Engineering, which is rebuilding the Badsell Road and Maidstone Road junction for Kent County Council. (Public Information Notice 01) Paddock Wood is about six miles north east of Royal Tunbridge Wells.

The closure is for BT cable diversions across the road near Mascalls Park. The contractor says that work cannot be done safely with traffic running through it. It has timed the closure for the October half term, when it expects less traffic.

The diversion and who gets in where

Signed diversions send traffic via the A228 Maidstone Road, the A228 Whetsted Road and the B2160 Maidstone Road. (Badsell Road project update, October 2026)

Access is kept open for people who live on the road, but the way in changes:

  • The Greenways, Morgan Way and the new homes reached from Morgan Way: use the A228 end of Badsell Road.
  • Mascalls Park: in and out via Maidstone Road from Monday 19 to Sunday 25 October, then via the A228 from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October.
  • Sunnycot Cottage: keeps its access from Maidstone Road throughout.
  • Walking and cycling routes: stay open.

Two other changes apply only while the road is shut:

  • The Foal Hurst Wood bus stop on Badsell Road is suspended. The contractor says bus operators will publish the temporary arrangements.
  • The weight limit on the Maidstone Road railway bridge is lifted, so lorries can reach Paddock Wood that way.

The contractor plans to use the closure for other jobs too. It will lay UK Power Networks cabling, take down the existing poles and overhead cables crossing Badsell Road, and carry on with drainage and construction. It says that should cut the number of closures needed later.

The order behind it runs to spring

Kent County Council has also published notice of a much longer order for the scheme. It intends to make an order letting it shut parts of Badsell Road, Mascalls Court Road and the B2160 Maidstone Road at their junctions, from 19 October, for up to 209 days. (Kent County Council notice dated 2 October 2026)

At its maximum that runs to the middle of May 2027. It does not mean the roads will be shut for seven months. An order of this kind sets the outer limit, and the county uses it when each phase needs a closure.

The contractor’s plans so far name two stages that need full closures:

  • the twelve days from 19 October
  • night closures of Badsell Road, Maidstone Road and Mascalls Court Road in the spring, for the final surfacing

(Badsell Road project newsletter, August 2026)

If you are diverted at a later stage, the county order lists these routes:

  • Badsell Road traffic: Badsell Road, the B2160 Maidstone Road, the A228 Whetsted Road and the A228 Maidstone Road.
  • Mascalls Court Road traffic: a long loop via Mile Oak Road, Pearsons Green Road, Churn Lane, the B2162 through The Heath and Brenchley Road to Brenchley, then back on the B2160.
  • Maidstone Road traffic: via the A21 Pembury bypass and the A228 Pembury Northern Bypass and Colts Hill.

The other dates this month

Badsell Road junction scheme in Paddock Wood: the key dates A list of key dates for the Badsell Road junction scheme. Construction started on 7 September 2026. On 30 September the temporary lights went from four-way to three-way. From 12 October UK Power Networks work runs overnight, 7pm to 5am, for about a week. From 19 to 30 October Badsell Road is closed between Maidstone Road and Morgan Way. From 2 November footpath work starts on Maidstone Road between Mascalls Court Road and the fire station. Completion is expected in late spring 2027. Badsell Road junction scheme: the key dates Paddock Wood, B2017 Badsell Road and B2160 Maidstone Road 7 Sep Construction starts 30 Sep Temporary lights go from four-way to three-way 12 Oct UK Power Networks work overnight, 7pm to 5am, for about a week 19 to 30 Oct Badsell Road closed, Maidstone Road to Morgan Way 2 Nov Maidstone Road footpath work, Mascalls Court Road to the fire station Spring 2027 Night closures for final surfacing; completion expected late spring Source: Breheny Civil Engineering for Kent County Council, project updates August and October 2026. Graphic by T Wells Today
The October closure is the only full daytime closure the contractor has announced so far. Graphic by T Wells Today.

The October project update sets out what else is happening around the closure:

  • From 30 September the temporary lights went from four-way to three-way, taking the Mascalls Park arm out of the sequence. They are manually controlled at peak times.
  • From 12 October UK Power Networks ducting work starts in the Badsell Road carriageway. It is close to the junction, so it runs overnight, from 7pm to 5am, for about a week.
  • From 2 November work starts on the Maidstone Road footpath between Mascalls Court Road and Paddock Wood Fire Station. Pedestrians will cross to the other side on a temporary controlled crossing, so no lane closure is planned.

(Badsell Road project update, October 2026)

Why the junction is being rebuilt

The county says the scheme is needed because three nearby housing developments are bringing around 1,000 new homes to Paddock Wood. It is paid for by the developers through Section 106 contributions. (Kent County Council, 2026)

When it is finished, the junction will have:

  • two approach lanes on Badsell Road at the Maidstone Road junction
  • a wider footway on the north side of Badsell Road, with a new verge
  • a new shared footway and cycle route on the south side, linked to the new housing and footpath WT268
  • a longer shared footway and cycle route on Maidstone Road
  • new traffic lights, better crossings and a new crossing on Badsell Road
  • flood basins and an underground storage tank
  • new trees and a hedgerow to replace the dormouse habitat lost to the works

Work started on 7 September and is due to finish in late spring 2027. It could not start in the summer holidays because the verges are potential habitat for hazel dormice. The county’s Natural England licence did not allow work before mid September. (Badsell Road project newsletter, August 2026)

Paddock Wood is where the borough’s Local Plan puts its biggest expansion, with about 2,450 homes in Paddock Wood and east Capel. We cover that on our planning news page.

What it means for you

  • Avoid Badsell Road from 19 to 30 October. Use the A228 and Whetsted Road instead, day and night.
  • Live in Mascalls Park? Your way in switches on Monday 26 October, from Maidstone Road to the A228.
  • Using the Foal Hurst Wood stop? It is suspended for the closure. Check with your bus operator before you travel.
  • Expect lorries on Maidstone Road over the railway bridge while the weight limit is lifted.
  • Questions go to the contractor. Breheny’s public liaison officer is on 07976 367359, 9am to 5pm on weekdays, or at badsellroad@breheny.co.uk. Updates are on badsellroad.co.uk.
  • Half term is busy on the roads and the railway. No trains run between Tonbridge and Wadhurst from 24 October to 1 November. Everything else is on our roadworks and travel page.

Sources: Breheny Civil Engineering for Kent County Council, Public Information Notice 01: Temporary Closure of Badsell Road and Project Update, October 2026, both on badsellroad.co.uk, read 9 October 2026; Kent County Council, Badsell Road newsletter, August 2026; Kent County Council, “Contract awarded for Badsell Road junction improvement project”; Kent County Council, Tunbridge Wells temporary traffic regulation notices dated 2 October 2026, on the Public Notice Portal.