FM Conway secures £2.5 million contract to deliver new bus interchange in Gravesend 

FM Conway is thrilled to have secured the contract with Kent County Council to implement a new bus hub that will improve the transport connections between rail, bus, bike and pedestrian links in Gravesend town centre at Barrack Row.

The business’ Civil Engineering division began work on the project in June and is expected to continue through to completion in early 2022. The work will form part of the final phase of the Gravesend Transport Quarter master plan which includes the Community Square and re-routing of the one-way system around Woodville Place and the new Rathmore Road.


The improvements include: 

  • Four new bus stops on Barrack Row
  • More pedestrianised space and prioritised crossings
  • New public toilets in Barrack Row paid for and provided by Gravesham Borough Council
  • Two Fastrack stops and Sapphire bus service improvements on Garrick Street
  • Provision for an electric bus charging point
  • New quality seating and bus canopies

"This long-awaited scheme will bring many benefits to Gravesend town centre, not least reducing congestion which in turn will have a direct impact on improving air quality and make a contribution to our target of becoming a carbon neutral Borough by 2030."

Mark Tooley, FM Conway Civil Engineering Director said: 
“We are delighted to have been awarded this prestigious scheme by Kent County Council. As a Kent based Civil Engineering contractor, we are looking forward to working with Kent County Council to deliver this project which will bring benefit to Gravesend and the surrounding area. By encouraging people to use public transport, the scheme aligns with FM Conway’s objectives to reduce carbon emissions and become carbon neutral. Our sustainability and recycling capabilities will bring added benefit to the project, meeting with the same aspirations of Kent County Council. The project will be supported by our many internal divisions, providing a truly self-delivered project.”


David Brazier, KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport said: 
“As Chairman of the council in 2018, I was delighted to officially open the new Rathmore Road and now I am gratified to see the final phase of our vision in improving the transport interchange at Gravesend. By improving the transport infrastructure, we’re aiming to reduce congestion by making sustainable transport a real alternative to the car. It takes a lot of effort and commitment to take a scheme as big as this from concept, through planning and on to construction, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work. Inevitably there will be periods of inconvenience during construction, and I would be grateful for the patience of local businesses and residents as this scheme will make a real difference to getting around Gravesend in the future.”


Cllr John Burden, Leader of Gravesham Borough Council, said: 
This long-awaited scheme will bring many benefits to Gravesend town centre, not least reducing congestion which in turn will have a direct impact on improving air quality and make a contribution to our target of becoming a carbon neutral Borough by 2030. To meet that target we need to encourage people to leave their cars at home when visiting Gravesend, and a modern, clean and easy to navigate transport interchange is fundamental to that. We look forward to the project’s opening next year.”