A291
A291 | |||||||
Location Map ( geo) | |||||||
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From: | Sturry (TR177604) | ||||||
To: | Eddington (TR180669) | ||||||
Distance: | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) | ||||||
Meets: | A28, A299, A2990, B2205 | ||||||
Former Number(s): | B2044 | ||||||
Old route now: | B2205 | ||||||
Primary Destinations | |||||||
Highway Authorities | |||||||
Traditional Counties | |||||||
Route outline (key) | |||||||
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The A291 is a non-primary route which connects the A28 at Sturry to the A299 near Herne Bay.
The route begins on the A28 just to the north of Sturry railway station and immediately climbs a hill as it leaves Sturry. As the land flattens out, the road leaves the urban area behind and heads out past Calcott, before having a couple of tight bends. On the right there is a minor road to Hoath Wood, one of England's few sites for the Heath Fritillary butterfly (May-July). The road continues north to Herne Common where it bears east and descends into the village. There is a sharp bend to the left in the heart of the village just before a mini-roundabout, followed immediately by a zebra crossing! This is the narrowest part of the road, and we thankfully leave it behind as the road widens out. The last section is pretty dull, with a few housing estates branching off on either side. The A291 terminates at a dumbbell junction with the A299 and A2990. Non-motorway vehicles are banned from heading onto the westbound A299 here as there are some tunnels further along.
History
The A291 did not appear in the 1922 Road Lists: the road from Sturry to Herne Bay was classified as the B2044 instead. However, it was quickly realised it merited Class I status, and so was soon upgraded to A291, probably on 1 April 1924.
Originally the A291, like the B2044 before it, ended in Herne Bay. However, in recent years it has been cut back to end on the A299, with the road into town now being the B2205.