A21 Medway Viaduct - Safety improvements

19 Sep 2006 09:45 AM

Safety work on the A21 Medway Viaduct, the Tonbridge By-pass, in Kent begins on Thursday, 21 September and finishes on Thursday, 21 December.

The work includes installing four new steel barriers along both sides of the London-bound and coast-bound viaducts.

For safety reasons there will be a reduced speed limit of 50 mph between Morley's Interchange and Vauxhall Lane while a speed restriction of 40 mph will be necessary across the viaduct and 500 metres either side.

Traffic will use narrow lanes during the work, to provide a safe working area. There will be a lane two closure between 10am and 3pm between 25 September and 1 October and at the same times between 9 and 16 October.

To complete the work in the fastest time, a temporary platform will be installed. There will be three nights of full road closures on the A21 Medway Viaduct, on Thursday, 21 September, Wednesday, 25 October, and Thursday, 7 December when the viaduct will be closed from 9pm to 6am. A fully signed diversion route will be in use as follows.

London-bound Traffic

Diversion at Vauxhall junction to A26, leading to A227 and B245. Rejoin A21 at Morley's Interchange. Traffic from northbound A26 diverted to Quarry Hill Road, B2260 to join the main diversion route above.

Coast-bound Traffic

Diversion at Morley's Interchange to B245 and A227. Rejoin A21 at Vauxhall junction. Traffic for southbound A26 will be diverted on to A2014 leading to Quarry Hill and south on A26.

Bala Vishanubala, Highways Agency route manager for Kent said: "The strengthening work will improve safety on the viaduct. We have worked in partnership with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to agree the diversion routes. Drivers are advised to allow more time for their journeys and we thank them for their patience during this essential work."

Notes to Editors

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. It manages, maintains and improves England's motorways and trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. The Highways Agency traffic information website is at www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo.

3. For real-time traffic information, the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated telephone service is on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more)

4. For general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency information line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls from BT landlines to 0845 numbers will cost no more than 4p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more.).

Issued by the Highways Agency South East Press Office.