Reduced congestion for the M20 near Maidstone, Kent
Road users on the M20 near Maidstone in Kent will benefit from reduced congestion as work starts next Monday (10 March) to realign the coastbound exit slip road at junction 7 to improve traffic flows.
New signage and road markings will be installed as part of the Government’s £317m pinch point programme to remove bottlenecks and keep traffic moving on England’s motorways and major A roads.
The work will all be carried out overnight and will involve overnight carriageway and slip road closures. It will be completed, weather permitting, on the morning of Tuesday 2 April.
Robert MacKenzie, Highways Agency Project Sponsor said:
The M20 is a busy motorway and at this point combines cross channel traffic with local traffic through Maidstone. The new alignment will maximise the efficiency of the slip road and improve traffic flows to reduce congestion. The slip road will be split to separate traffic travelling north on the A249 from traffic travelling south.
We have planned the work to be carried out overnight, when we know traffic flows are lowest to minimise disruption. There will be closures in place and we advise anyone wishing to use the M20 to plan their journey and allow extra time.
The work will be carried out overnight, between 8pm and 6am.
The coastbound carriageway will be closed between junctions 5 and 7 for five nights from Monday 10 March and for nine nights from Sunday 23 March.
The coastbound entry slip road - from junctions 5 and 6 onto the main carriageway - and two lanes on the main carriageway will be closed overnight on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March.
The coastbound entry slip road - from junctions 5 and 6 onto the main carriageway - and one lane on the main carriageway will be closed for six nights from Monday 17 March.
Fully signed diversions will be in place via the A229 and A249.
The improvements were announced on Monday 8 October 2012 and will support several development sites, anticipated to create 10,400 jobs and several residential developments anticipated to create 8,400 homes by 2020.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer