Highways Agency

LAND COMPENSATION ACT 1973 (AS AMENDED)

A2/M2 Cobham to junction 4 widening

The Secretary of State for Transport hereby gives notice that the length of highway detailed in the schedule below was fully opened to public traffic on 11th July 2003 after completion. This Notice is in addition to a previous Notice published in December 2002 referring to that part of the project from the Shorne/Cobham Junction to Junction 2.

Under part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 (as amended) there is a right to compensation in respect of any depreciation of more than £^50 in the value of certain interests in land caused by the use of new or altered highways and resulting from specified physical factors (noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke and artificial lighting and the discharge onto the land in respect of which the claim is made of any solid or liquid substance). Compensation is assessed by reference to prices current at a date twelve months after the highway is first open to public traffic, or in the case of altered highway, first open to public traffic after completion of the alterations.

Interests qualifying for compensation are specified in section 2 of the above-mentioned Act and there are special provisions relating to claims by mortgagees and persons entitled under trusts or settlements. However, no compensation can be paid under Part 1 where part of a property has been acquired for the purpose of constructing the highway.

Any person entitled to a qualifying interest who considers that they have a claim under the said provisions may obtain further information and claim forms from the Highways Agency, OD Lands, Federated House, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1SZ (telephone 01306 878419 - please ask for Mrs Julia Carroll).

Claims can be made twelve months after the new or altered highway is first open to public traffic, that is on or after 11th July 2004 (the "first claim day"). Claims should be made within six years from this date. However, any person who within the twelve months preceding this date makes a contract for disposing of their interest (insofar as the interest is in land which is not a dwelling) for granting a tenancy may make a claim within that period and must do so before the interest is disposed of or a tenancy granted. Compensation in such cases will not be payable before the first claim day.

Schedule

The Scheme: The scheme is the A2/M2 Cobham to Junction 4 Widening. This Notice relates to the Completion of the project from Junction 2 to Junction 4.

Description of the Works

Between Junction 1 and Junction 2

Environmental Barriers have been constructed along southern boundary of A2 Watling Street on-slip road, as far as the Three Crutches bridge and from here to Junction 2, alongside the northern boundary of the coast-bound carriageway of the M2.

Junction 2

Street lighting has been provided at the junction and along the link road connecting it to the A228. A new footpath leading to Merrals Shaw has been constructed from the Marlowe Park Estate, close to Elgin Gardens, passing over a new footbridge provided to cross the coast-bound off-slip road, under the M2 in a new subway and over a footbridge constructed as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. An Environmental Barrier has been provided alongside the northern boundary of the coast-bound carriageway of the M2.

Between Junction 2 and Junction 3

Along this section the M2 has been widened from dual 2-lane motorway to dual 4-lane motorway between the junctions and dual 3-lane motorway through the junctions. Along this section of the M2 street lighting has been provided.

A new River Medway bridge has been constructed to carry London-bound traffic and the original River Medway bridge has been modified to carry the coast-bound traffic. From a point in plan on the River Medway Bridges coincident with the position of the mean high water level, to just east of Hilary Gardens on the coast-bound carriageway and to the east abutment of the new Medway Bridge on the London-bound carriageway, an Environmental Barrier has been provided alongside the northern boundary.

Two replacement bridges have been constructed to carry the widened M2 over Wouldham Road.

Nashenden Farm Lane has been realigned to pass along the foot of the new M2 embankment. Borstal Farm Access Bridge over the M2 has been demolished and Stony Lane subway has been replaced with a new bridge passing over the widened M2.

A section of high containment vertical concrete barrier has been provided alongside the southern boundary the London-bound carriageway between a point adjacent to the CTRL North Downs tunnel portal and the new Stony Lane bridge.

Junction 3 (with A229)

A new two bridge grade-separated junction (Taddington Wood) has been constructed over the M2 with associated new on- and off- slip roads. A new two bridge grade-separated junction has been constructed over the A229 at Lord Lees and a new flyover has been constructed over the Bridgewood roundabout.

A new dual carriageway link road has been constructed, connecting the Taddington Wood junction to Walderslade Woods (Road) in the north and the new Lord Lees junction in the south. Where the link road joins the Walderslade Woods (Road) a new at-grade junction has been formed.

The Bridgewood roundabout, the Taddington Wood junction, the junction on Walderslade Woods (Road) and the Lord Lees junction have been signalised. Cyclist and pedestrian routes have been formed around the junction with Toucan crossing facilities.

The A229 has been realigned. Replacement bridges have been constructed to carry the Maidstone Road and Robin Hood Lane over the widened M2. Street lighting has been provided on the Bridgewood flyover; at the new Taddington Wood and Lord Lees junctions; on the new link road between Lord Lees and Taddington Wood junctions from there to the new junction with the Walderslade Woods (Road). Replacement street lighting has been provided on Walderslade Woods (Road) from the Fostington Way roundabout westwards for 450 metres. Street lighting has been reprovided on the realigned A229. Four new overhead sign gantries have been constructed on the A229.

Between Junction 3 and Junction 4

Along this section the M2 has been widened from dual 2-lane motorway to dual 3-lane motorway between the junctions and dual 2-lane motorway through Junction 4. Street lighting has been provided, extending eastwards beyond Junction 4, as far as the ends of the on- and off-slip roads.

A replacement footbridge has been constructed at Tunbury avenue and the Aylesford Common subway has been extended to accommodate the widened M2.

Two replacement bridges have been constructed to carry the M2 over Harp Farm Lane. Yelstead Lane has been diverted along the southern boundary of the M2. Lidsing Lane has been realigned and is carried over the M2 on a replacement bridge immediately to the west of the original bridge location.

A bridge to replace the one carrying Forge Lane over the M2 has been constructed on the same alignment as the original bridge.

Junction 4

The junction has been fully signalised and street lighting provided on the junction and from there along Hoath Way as far as the Sharsted Way roundabout.

Motorway Communications

Between Junction 2 and Junction 4 a total of 22 new overhead portal frame and 2 cantilever gantries have been constructed. These carry overhead signing (both fixed and variable message) and lane signalling.

Mrs P M Baker
A Higher Executive Officer
In the Highways Agency