Highways Agency

The Project

The M20 Junction 10, built in 1982 as part of the Ashford Bypass, was never intended to serve the level of growth that Ashford has experienced in recent years. Before the improvement scheme junction 10 was a major traffic constraint.  The recent improvement is part of a range of necessary highway improvements and green travel measures identified by the South of Ashford Transport Study (SATS).

The £4.9m contract for the improvement scheme was awarded to contractor Norwest Holst in August 2006 and work was completed in September 2007.  The scheme was funded by a developer.

Before the improvement scheme the junction was effectively at capacity during peak hours.  The purpose of the scheme was to maximise the capacity of the junction while keeping the effect on the environment to a minimum.

Scheme Update

Works started on 11 September 2006 and was fully completed in September 2007. Scheme progress was good despite one of the wettest winters on record.

Throughout the works traffic management changed continually. The site had a 30 mph speed restriction, as it was particularly dangerous working within live traffic conditions and keeping to the speed limit reduced the risk to the workforce and maintained safety for the travelling public.

The traffic signals had to be turned off as part of the work to increase the overall capacity of the roundabout and to allow communications cabling to be updated. Now the work has been completed there will be about 50% more capacity at the junction and as a result there should be fewer queues.

The new traffic signals that have been provided will be more sensitive to traffic flows and will be adjusted to suit conditions. However, the main reason for providing the signals is for the safety of both drivers, speeds will be higher, and for pedestrians and cyclists who need to cross the junction in order to go to the William Harvey Hospital, Tesco, and other developments to the north or south of the M20.