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A249 Stockbury (M2) to Sheerness DBFO Contract
A249 Stockbury (M2) to Sheerness DBFO Contract
- Status
- Current
- Located in
- Area 4
- Scheme type
- Design, Build, Finance and Operate
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The Project
The project road comprises the A249 trunk road between the Stockbury junction on the M2 (junction 5) and Sheerness Docks on the Isle of Sheppey, a total length of 17 km. The southern portion of the road from the M2 to the crossing of The Swale was improved to dual 2 lane all-purpose standard and was opened to traffic in 1996.
View details of the A249 Iwade Bypass to Queenborough Improvement here
Key Data
| Length road | 17km |
|---|---|
| Estimated cost: | £100m |
| Contract award: | 19 February 2004 |
| Commencement of improvement works: | April 2004 |
| Improvement scheme to be opened to traffic: | July 2006 |
| Completion of improvement works: | February 2007 |
| End of contract period: | 19 February 2034 |
| DBFO company: | Sheppey Route Limited |
| Type of road: | Dual 2 Lane all-purpose carriageway and single carriageway. |
| Shareholders: |
Carillion Private Finance |
| Contractors: | Carillion Construction Ltd & Carillion Highway Maintenance |
Discussion
The A249 Stockbury (M2) to Sheerness project is a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract which the Highways Agency awarded to Sheppey Route Limited, a company established by Carillion Private Finance.
As part of the project Sheppey Route Limited constructed the 5km long A249 Iwade Bypass to Queenborough Improvement, which is a scheme in the Department's Targeted Programme of Improvement (TPI). This scheme provides a new high level fixed link crossing of The Swale and extends the existing dual carriageway road northwards to Queenborough.
Previously the only road access to the Isle of Sheppey was via the existing A249 trunk road, which is carried by a lifting bridge over The Swale estuary. This bridge also carries the only railway link between the mainland and the island. Since marine traffic on The Swale has right of way considerable delays were caused to road traffic when the bridge was raised. The new high level Swale Crossing eliminates the delays, improving access to the Isle of Sheppey and fostering improved and sustainable growth in the area. 
The cost of the project over the 30 year period is approximately £335m. This figure includes the operation and maintenance of the whole route, which will be undertaken by Sheppey Route Limited under the DBFO contract until 2034.
The old A249 was detrunked on Sunday 1st February 2009. This means that responsibility for its operation and maintenance has passed from the Highways Agency to Kent County Council.
The section that has been de-trunked is the old route, from Kingsferry Roundabout to the Queenborough Junction including:
- Sheppey Way (old A249)
- Cowstead Corner Roundabout
- The link road between Cowstead Corner and Cowstead Roundabouts (becomes part of B2231 Lower Road)
- Queenborough Road (old A249)
- All side roads off Queenborough Junction
- Queenborough Junction excepting the new A249 dual carriageway
