M20’s Junction 10a is finally coming...in 2019

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Transport chiefs have outlined their timetable for when work will begin on a multi-million pound new motorway junction to ease traffic jams at Ashford’s Crooksfoot roundabout.

The idea for junction 10a on the M20 was first suggested more than a decade ago and was supported by Ashford Borough Council’s cabinet in March last year as one of the “super eight” key projects for the town.

Now Highways England, the government body in charge of delivering the plan, has announced when the £70 million scheme can be expected.

Work is due to start in 2019, and will include a roundabout over the motorway to link up with the A2070 dual carriageway and to new housing schemes proposed at Cheeseman’s Green, Sevington, and Waterbrook.

Highways England will contribute £35 million, while the South East Local Enterprise Partnership will give £20 million, and the rest will come from contributions by housing developers.

Ashford Borough Council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson said: “This is excellent news for the borough. Junction 10a is a nationally significant project and will provide much needed capacity and improved road safety.

“I’m delighted the government has recognised the importance of delivering the full junction 10a scheme. We have campaigned long and hard for this investment to be made, and we can now look forward to the benefits this will bring in terms of attracting investment and creating jobs.

“News that the scheme is going ahead will bring confidence that we will have the road capacity needed to enable a major programme of economic development supporting quality house building.

“We look forward to working with our partners to see this delivered as soon as possible.”

Highways England project director for the south Ken Simmonds said: “These schemes will bring significant long-term benefits to road users on motorways and major A roads in the South East, as well as to local residents and the economy as a whole.

“The construction work will, of course, bring some disruption in the short term but we will ensure that we keep this to a minimum to keep traffic flowing.

“When the schemes are completed, road users will experience safer, more reliable and less congested journeys.”

For more information about the £2.2 billion plans for roads in the south east visit www.highways.gov.uk

Traffic heading coastbound to Junction 10 of the M20. Work is set to start in 2019 on Junction 10a