The end is in sight for £100m flyover project after three years
Drone footage has revealed the latest progress on the A249’s new flyover.
Aerial photographs of the Stockbury roundabout now show the finished, but unsurfaced, structure that aims to make journeys easier for motorists travelling between Maidstone, Sittingbourne and Sheppey.
The M2 junction 5 project, which began three years ago, is expected to cost up to £100 million and will improve the sliproads and junction approaches onto the motorway.
This year, it entered into its final 12 months of construction.
The A249 Maidstone-bound is closed from the Stockbury Roundabout to Church Hill, along with the M2 junction 5 London-bound exit slip, until 5am Saturday, March 30.
This is to allow contractors to build the new A249 carriageways to the south of the roundabout. This includes removing the existing road and building up the layers that will form the new carriageway.
A National Highways spokesman said: “As the new road is being built in the same place as the existing carriageway, to safely carry out this work we needed to close the Maidstonebound A249 carriageway.
“We understand closures are frustrating, but these short term disruptions will benefit road users and the local community for many years to come.”
At the weekend and overnight this week, the Stockbury roundabout exit to the M2 London-bound has been shut to construct the central reservation between the two parts of the slip.
A spokesman said: “We had hoped to complete this without any closures on the entry slip, however this is not possible “The dedicated link from the A249 Maidstone-bound – from
Sittingbourne – to the M2 London-bound will remain open. “To join the M2 Londonbound from Stockbury roundabout motorists must use the A249 Sheppey-bound to Key Street Roundabout, and join the A249 southbound to use the M2 London-bound dedicated link.”
There will then be another full weekend closure from 8pm on Friday until 5am on Monday, March 26. On Thursday, March 28, and Friday, March 29, the A249 Sheppey-bound will be shut between the M20 junction 7 and the Stockbury Roundabout between 8pm and 5am.
The spokesman added: “Please use the M20, A229, M2 and A249.
“For non-motorway traffic please use the A249, A229, A2 and A249.
“When the road reopens at 5am on Saturday, March 30, both sides of the A249 will be open.”