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In this section you can find out more about how we manage and maintain these roads and plan for the future
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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Explanation of the Scheme
A2 / A282 Dartford Improvement
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 2km. 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).
- Retaining wall to prevent the proposed east to north link road from encroaching into the grounds of Hawley Manor.
- 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
