Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers
Purpose of the environmental statement
The Scheme
The Highways Agency has widened the A2 to four lanes in each direction between Junction 2 of the M25/A282 and the Bean Junction, a distance of approximately 1.25 miles (2 kilometres). In addition, the operation of Junction 2 has been improved by the provision of free-flow link roads.
The Need for the Scheme
Nearly 90,000 vehicles per day previously used Junction 2 of the M25/A282. Consequently the junction suffered from considerable congestion, particularly during peak hours. The A2 between Junction 2 and Bean Junction, which carried over 100,000 vehicles per day, was similarly congested.
In the future, as traffic flows on the roads increase and local regeneration in the Kent Thames-side area of North Kent takes place, this situation will deteriorate further. The Scheme alleviates the existing and anticipated future congestion, improves safety and contributes towards an integrated and sustainable transport strategy for the Kent Thames-side area. This has been achieved by improving journey time reliability and providing better access to local regeneration areas.
Summary of the Scheme
A2 between Junction 2 of the M25/A282 and Bean Junction
- Existing 3 lane and hard shoulder, widened to 4 lanes with hard shoulder in each direction.
- Two new viaducts parallel to the existing Littledale Viaduct for traffic travelling from A2 westbound to M25/A282 northbound and from M25/A282 southbound to A2 eastbound.
Junction 2
- Link road from the A2 westbound onto the M25/A282 northbound, via a new viaduct over Junction 2.
- Link road from the A2 westbound onto the M25 southbound.
- Realigned link road from Junction 2 to Junction 1b for access from A2 and M25 northbound into Dartford.
- Realigned link road from Junction 1b to Junction 2 for access onto the A2 (eastbound and westbound) and M25 southbound from Dartford.
- Link road from M25/A282 southbound onto A2 eastbound.
Other associated features
- Low-noise surfacing on sections of previous carriageway.
- Noise fence at Hawley Manor.
- Landscaped earth mounds in many locations 2m high above the carriageway to reduce noise and provide visual screening.
- Retaining walls along the widened sections of the A2 to retain the existing highway boundary, eg. where the A2 passes through the Darenth Wood
- Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
- New balancing ponds, for flood prevention, and pollution control measures.
- Extensive planting of woodland, shrubs and grassland.
The Scheme
The map of this scheme is available in PDF format
View from North East
Environmental effects
Environmental Effects
The Scheme has been carefully designed to keep any adverse effects on the natural and built environment to a minimum. Extensive mitigation measures, which are summarised in this brochure, are included as part of the Scheme design.
The environmental effects of the Scheme are summarised in the table on the following page. The table describes a range of topics covering the natural and built environment. For the most part, the degree of impact is recorded as Moderate Adverse through to Slight Beneficial. This is primarily because the existing road network is already a significant feature of the local environment and the impacts of the Scheme are regarded as an incremental change. It is, however, acknowledged that during the 24 month construction period, there would be greater disturbance and inconvenience locally.
| Topic | Effects of Scheme | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Noise | Residential properties close to the A2 and A282 currently experience high noise levels. Despitethe road improvements coming close to many of these properties, the use of low noise surfacingand 2m high mounding and fencing in some locations would mean that by 2022 (the assessmentyear), noise levels for all of the properties within 300m of the scheme, would reduce by between0.7 and 7.5 dB(A). | Slight Beneficial |
| Air Quality | Cleaner vehicles in the future are likely to contribute to an improvement in air quality. Neverthelessanticipated improvement overall would be less with the Scheme than without the Scheme. | Slight Adverse |
| Landscape Visual Impact | The Scheme affords the opportunity for better landscape integration and some enhancement ofthe urban fringe landscape through extensive woodland planting and new earthworks to screenlarge parts of the new and existing interchange. In visual terms, the Scheme would adverselyaffect approximately 300 properties on opening, but only 11 would be substantially affected. Bythe assessment year (2022), less than 200 properties would experience a slight adverseimpact, whilst none would be substantially affected. The view from public rights of way and openspace would be adversely affected. In particular, Darenth Country Park would be directly andindirectly affected, but the recreational and amenity value would not significantly diminish. | Slight Adverse |
| Nature Conservation | There would be no direct impact on the Darenth Wood Site (SSSI) or the two local Sites of NatureConservation Interest (SNCI). There would, however, be a direct loss of existing features,including hedgerows and chalk grassland. The new bridge over the River Darent would adverselyaffect a short length of riverside habitat. In mitigation, much of the lost vegetation would bereplaced through the use of native tree and shrub planting and wildflower seeding on the newverges. Wherever possible, translocation of chalk grassland and an ancient hedgerow would becarried out. | Moderate Adverse |
| Heritage | There would be no direct impact on the three Scheduled Ancient Monuments within the StudyArea. There would however, be direct impact on the known archaeological interest, and detailedarchaeological investigations are planned to ensure all archaeological remains are properlyexcavated and recorded. The setting of the group of Grade II listed buildings at Hawley Manor,including the Dovecote (a Grade II* listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument), would beadversely affected by the Scheme. However, 'green retaining solutions would be implemented toreduce the impact. These could include soil reinforcement using geotextile permitting asteepened grass slope, terracing incorporating vegetation, or crib walling. | Slight Adverse |
| Water Quality | There would be increased levels of contaminant in the highway run-off and an increased risk ofspillage due to increased traffic flows. However, the introduction of new pollution controlmeasures would result in overall water quality improvements. | Slight Beneficial |
| Drainage | The additional area of carriageway would result in a higher volume of run-off being dischargedfrom the road and the increased length of embankment across the Darenth Valley would take asmall area of floodplain. However, the use of balancing ponds and the provision of compensatoryflood storage would mean there is unlikely to be an increase in the flood risk. | Neutral |
| Non Vehicular Travellers | All existing rights of way would be maintained. | Neutral |
| Vehicular Travellers | Vehicle journey times for people using the A2/A282 interchange would be reduced. Existingvehicular access across the A2/A282 would be maintained. | Slight Beneficial |
| Land & Property | About 32 hectares (79 acres) of land, including four houses at Littledale, would be needed forthe Scheme, of which 9.5 hectares (23 acres) is already owned by the Secretary of State. | Slight Adverse |
Statutory Procedures
The Secretary of State has published three draft Orders for the Scheme under the Highways Act 1980.These draft Orders seek the legal authority to provide the new slip roads, one of which will be formotorway traffic only at the M25/A2 junction, and to alter the existing roads, public rights of way andprivate accesses affected by the new slip roads and the widening of the A2 west of the junction. Thewidening of the A2 between the M25 and Bean junctions would be carried out under the Secretary ofStates general powers to improve trunk roads.
A draft Compulsory Purchase Order for the land and rights required for the Scheme will be published shortly together with Notices of Intention to provide certificates that adequate exchange land is to be provided for open space land required for the Scheme from Darenth Country Park and common land at Green Street Green Road.
Copies of the draft Orders, the Notices of Intention to provide the exchange land certificates, a statement explaining the proposals, a report on the public exhibition, the Scheme Assessment Report and the Environmental Statement may be inspected free of charge at the following locations from 28th March 2003 to 27th June 2003:-
Highways Agency,
Federated House, London Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1SZ
Kent County Council,
Sessions House, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ
Dartford Borough Council,
Civic Centre, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1DR
Dartford Library,
Central Park, Dartford, DA1 1EU
Bean Sub-Post Office
Bean Stores, Southfleet Road, Dartford DA2 8BS
Copies of the Environmental Statement and Scheme Assessment Report may be purchased from the Highways Agency at the address above.
The Environmental Statement is priced at £30.00 for Volume 1 (text) and £50.00 for Volume 2 (figures). Copies of both volumes are available on CD, price £20.00.
The Scheme Assessment Report is priced at £6.00 for Volume 1 (text) and £50.00 for Volume 2 (figures). Copies of both volumes are available on CD, price £20.00.
Your Views
Anyone wishing to support/comment on, or object to the draft Orders, the Notice of Intention or Environmental Statement, should write to the Highways Agency at the address on the previous page. The closing date for comments is 27th June 2003.
Depending on the nature and number of objections received to the draft Orders, a Public Inquiry may be held before an independent inspector nominated by the Lord Chancellor.
If a Public Inquiry is held, all those who have responded will be notified individually at least six weeks beforehand and notices will appear in the local press.
All comments and objections received will be made available to the Inspector who may decide to make them public. Publicity will be given to any alternative proposals received.
Following any Public Inquiry, the Secretary of State for Transport will consider the recommendations made by the Inspector in his report before deciding on whether to proceed with the Scheme.
Key Events
The diagram below shows the stage that we have reached and the sequence of future key events. The timing of future key events will depend on the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures including a Public Inquiry, if required.
Contacts
For further information please contact :
Highways Agency
Federated House
London Road
Dorking
Surrey RH4 1SZ
Ahmed Faizi : 01306 878146
Janice Burgess : 01306 878163
Or you can Email us on:
A2A282DartfordImprovement@highways.gsi.gov.uk