Highways Agency

A2/M2 and A249 (M2 to Sheppey)

The Strategy

Introduction

Route Management Strategies have been devised by the Highways Agency to enable the effective and efficient management of the motorway and trunk road network. Each individual strategy will concentrate on investigating the current problems associated with the route and tackle them on an individual basis:

The RMS process has been developed in order to:

• Assist the Highways Agency (HA) in planning and optimising investment in the trunk road/motorway network, (across different budget headings), and in the delivery of HA strategic plans and ten year transport strategy.
• Provide consistency, transparency, openness and integration, particularly with other transport related strategies, including local and regional transport plans.
• Enable the HA to provide an input into these strategies and plans.
• Maximise customer focus.
• Improve forward planning over a 10-year horizon.

The development of Route Management Strategies assists the Highways Agency to achieve its Strategic Aim, which is:

• To contribute to sustainable development by maintaining, operating and improving the trunk road network in support of the Government's integrated transport and land use planning polices.

The strategy is being put together by the Highways Agency's consultants, Babtie Group.

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Route Functions and Objectives

Route Functions

The route is a key element in the strategic link between London (M25) and North Kent and an alternative route to the channel ports

It provides a link for National Freight Traffic heading to/from the channel ports and Europe

It forms part of the proposed Regional Frame in the draft Regional Transport Strategy

It provides access for Trans European Network traffic (TEN)

It provides a route for local and regional commuter traffic, both private car and long distance commuter coaches.

It provides part of the road infrastructure to serve public transport in the surrounding towns and villages. The A249 forms the only road access to the Isle of Sheppey.

Part of the route is the principal transport infrastructure serving, for example, local businesses, schools, leisure activities and farming

It provides access for agricultural vehicles (A2 and A249) and a route for movement of agricultural produce

It facilitates access to the local roads serving Kent Thameside and the Bluewater shopping complex

The A249 is a key route to the Port of Sheerness

It forms part of the Highways Agency's landscape and biodiversity corridor

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Possible Problems

Environment:
Noise Levels
Maintenance of planting following new works
Air Quality

Safety:
Low standard junction / slip road alignment
Queuing back from slips onto main carriageway due to overloaded junctions
Loss of lorry parking
Lack of main carriageway capacity
Right turning movements across dual carriageway / signals
Single carriageway / at grade junctions

Economy:
Congestion
Delays at interchanges
Future potential additional traffic / congestion due to identified development
Delays due to Kingsferry Bridge (to be resolved by new crossing)

Accessibility:
Lack of full movements at A2 Canterbury junctions
Problems of egress from Dover Eastern Docks on to A2/A20 roundabout
Poor pedestrian access to bus stops
Poor pedestrian crossing facilities

Integration:
Public transport integration
Informal car sharing / parking
Bus stop access

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Route Outcomes

Speed Management
To adopt a consistent, realistic and enforceable approach in the management of vehicle speeds along the route within the jurisdiction of the HA.

Junction Accidents
To reduce the number of accidents occurring at junctions along the route.

Accidents
To reduce the number of accidents occurring along the route

Vulnerable Users
To improve accessibility for vulnerable users along and crossing the route

Delay minimisation
To reduce the impact of delays caused by accidents and maintenance

Tourist Traffic
To reduce congestion associated with tourist traffic along the route

Bus Stops
To co-operate with operators to provide appropriate stopping facilities for buses and access for users

Signing
To provide sufficient and safe signing along the route

Environment
To minimise the effects of the route on both the natural and built environment

M25 Junction 2
To improve safety and operation at the interchange with the M25 at Junction 2

Bean Interchange
To improve safety and operation at the Bean Interchange on the A2

Pepperhill Junction
To improve safety and operation at Pepperhill junction of the A2

M2 Junction 3
To improve safety and operation at Junction 3 of the M2

M2 Junction 5
To improve safety and operation at the A249 junction (junction 5 of the M2)

M2 Junction 6
To improve safety and operation at Junction 6 of the M2

Canterbury Slip roads
To improve safety and operation along the A2 Canterbury Bypass

Brenley Corner
To improve operation at Brenley Corner - Junction 7 of the M2

A2 Lydden
To improve safety and operation at Lydden (A2)

Whitfield roundabout
To improve operation at Whitfield roundabout

Medway Motorway Service Area
To improve safety and operation at Medway Service Area on the M2

HGV parking
To provide facilities for HGV parking along the route

Regeneration areas
To facilitate and support regeneration and employment opportunities in regeneration areas

Noise
To reduce noise caused by traffic on the route

Air Quality
To improve air quality along the route

Integration
To improve integration with other modes of transport along the route

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Possible Actions

Speed Management
Introduction of Safety Cameras at strategic locations
Dualling of A2 Lydden to Dover

Junction Accidents
Carriageway markings / signing / lane discipline
Carriageway alignment improvement works
Free flowing slips at M2 Junctions 4, 5 and 7
Grade separated junction between Lydden Crossroads and Dover Eastern Docks
Improved management of parking in Bluewater shopping complex

Accidents
Carriageway markings and signs
Renewing / maintenance of surface
Carriageway alignment improvements and works
Dualling of A2 Lydden
Installation of safety cameras

Vulnerable Users
Improved grade separated crossing facilities. Vandal proof lighting provision
Improved vulnerable user accessibility at interchanges
Further extend the cycle ways partially provided on the A249
Provision of equestrian crossing at Kingston/Barham area on A2

Delay minimisation
Provision of real time information along the whole route
Installation of electronic signing
Improved performance at both accident clearance and maintenance sites
Dualling of Lydden to Dover
Provision of emergency access between junctions 5 and 6

Tourist Traffic
Provision of real time information
Installation of electronic signing
Strategic diversion strategy to be developed
Lydden to Dover dualling
Provision of full movement slips at Canterbury
Improvement of capacity at Bean Interchange
Improved management of parking at Bluewater shopping complex

Bus Stops
Improvements to existing lay-bys
Improve access to bus stops for all, but particularly for vulnerable users
Signing strategy for bus stops and other public transport facilities

Signing
Signing strategy for junctions including use of geographical locations
Opportunities for interchange
Strategic decision on Dover traffic (split A2 and A20 re eastern and western docks traffic)
Consistent signing strategy in event of route being used in an emergency

Environment
Update of Landscape Management Plan for whole route
Landscape and environmental management following major schemes
Provide quite surfacing and/or noise fences

M25 Junction 2
Current scheme preparation underway to improve junction, including free flowing slips onto A2

Bean Interchange
Improve capacity of junction
A wider bridge or new two-bridge junction
Improved management of parking at Bluewater shopping complex

Pepperhill Junction
Improve capacity of junction

M2 Junction 3
Improvement to current lane marking design

M2 Junction 5
Signing and lining review - review of recently installed traffic signal control
Grade separation

M2 Junction 6
Realignment of existing slips
Improved warning signs / chevrons etc

Canterbury Slip roads
A) Provide additional east facing slips at A2050 Harbledown
B) Provide additional west facing slips at A28 Wincheap
C) Consolidate the slip road movements at A2050 Bridge to avoid use of Bekesbourne Road
D) Combine options A and B
E) Combine options A,B and C

Brenley Corner
Provision of free flowing slip to M2 to A2.
Review of cyclist / pedestrian facilities around interchange

A2 Lydden
Consider Grade separation - maybe as part of any future widening of Lydden - Dover
Make the junction circuit day use only

Whitfield roundabout
Grade separation - as part of any widening of Lydden - Dover
Alternatively construct new section of road to bypass Whitfield

Medway Motorway Service Area
Introduce controlled entry to side roads

HGV parking
Provision of new HGV parking areas / potential use of released land following widening of A2 in North Kent
Enhancement of Medway Motorway Service Area

Regeneration areas
Junction improvement - Bean, Pepperhill
Free flowing slips
Dualling of A2 Lydden to Dover

Noise
Provision of mitigation measures
Quieter surfacing

Air Quality
Provision of mitigation measures
Use of variable speed limits
Dualling of A2 Lydden to Dover

Integration
Provision of full movement slips at Canterbury
Improvements to Bean and Pepperhill junctions
Dualling of A2 Lydden to Dover