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The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
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Background Information
Background Information
The Highways Agency gave Skanska Construction approval to start construction works on the A2 Bean to Cobham Phase 2 - Pepperhill to Cobham.
The Scheme to be built is the "Red Route" which the public expressed a clear preference for, following the public consultation held by the Highways Agency in March 2001. After considering all of the responses received the Secretary of State announced in January 2002, that the Red Route had been chosen as the "Preferred Route" and would be taken forward and the outline design developed. The Preferred Route takes the line of the new road between Pepperhill and Marling Cross away from the residential area. From Marling Cross to Cobham the existing A2 will be widened generally to the south as it is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauly (AONB) and also Shorne and Ashenbank Woods are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
A public Inquiry into the scheme was held in May 2005 and following consideration of the Inspector's report, in September 2005 the Secretary of State for Transport gave his approval for the Scheme to proceed. The detailed design has now been developed and works started in September 2006. However, no traffic management will be put on the A2 until January 2007, when three narrow lanes will be maintained through the traffic management at all times.
The scheme will involve building a new section of A2 between the Pepperhill and Marling Cross Junctions, the new road will be further away from the residential areas than the existing A2. It will be built close to the line of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, creating a combined transport corridor in this area. On the existing road (the old road) between Pepperhill / Downs Road and Marling Cross, a new combined footpath and cycleway route will be built together with extensive landscaping and planting which has been planned and designed to create an amenity area for public use. Links will also be provided from the new junctions at Tollgate and Marling Cross. A separate equestrian route will also be provided. From Marling Cross to Cobham Junctions the trunk road will be widened on the line of the existing A2 in order to minimise any direct impact on the Shorne and Ashenbank Woods Sites of Special Scientific interest. A new combined cycleway and pedestrian route will be created alongside the A2 from Marling Cross to Brewers Road. Low noise surfacing will be used on the new road over its length of approximately 6. Km (4 miles).
The start of the construction activities include site clearance, fencing, demolition and bridge building works which will take place adjacent to the A2 and local roads. It is expected the new route will take place approximately 2 years to build. Once it is completed and the traffic is moved from the existing A2 road between Pepperhill and Marling Cross, material from the new road will be used to landscape the existing road. It is anticipated that the landscaping and planting will take a further year to complete.
During the construction period traffic management changes will be made to the local highways and the A2 Trunk Road.
The A2 Pepperhill to Cobham Scheme invited guests and members of the public to a joint exhibition to display major archaeological findings discovered on the project and to explain the future Marling Cross traffic management phasing which commenced in July 2007. The exhibition was held at the nearby ShorneWood Country Park and during two days over1400 people visited the exhibits.
The first section of the new Coastbound A2 was opened to traffic on 29th April. The existing three lane carriageway has been widened into the central reserve to create the fourth lane, with the existing lanes being overlaid with new low noise surfacing. Traffic has now been switched into narrow lanes allowing works to proceed in the verge, hard shoulder and Lane 1 behind the protection of Varioguard barriers.
The widening of the A2 is particularly complex between Marling Cross junction and Cobham Junction.Widening has to be phased to take account of the numerous diversions for water, electricity and telephone systems in the area, many of which can only be completed during off peak or summer periods. The diversions have been progressing well and are currently on programme. Three lanes must remain open to traffic during peak (daytime) hours to ensure that congestion is kept to aminimum for the 100,000 cars that use the roadevery day.
Progress on the remainder of the scheme is currently on programme. Marling Cross and Tollgate bridges will be completed by late summer. Earthworks on the new offline section of road between Pepperhill and Marling Cross are well advanced, the warm spring weather having allowed the works to start a month earlier than originally planned.
The new Downs Road and Thong Lane bridges are also currently being constructed.
On the 29th October 2007 the Thong Lane exit slip from the A2 Coastbound was permanently closed: the route is now via the A2 network, the adjacent Cobham Junction and the existing Thong Lane Bridge. Traffic will be transferred onto the new Thong Lane Bridge once bridge construction is complete.
The slip road closure allows all the associated works for the new Thong Lane Bridge to take place. Once the works have been completed the new bridge will be opened for two way traffic. There will also be provision for a bridle path across the bridge.
