Lane closures and carriageway closures on the coastbound M20 at junction 6 and the A229 Chatham Road in Maidstone

Drivers using the coastbound M20 at junction 6 are advised that works will commence on 09 August and are expected to last for 10 weeks. Due to the nature of the work, it is necessary to have lane closures in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and so drivers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys throughout the works.

The works are being carried out in order to repair damaged beams on the two bridges carrying the M20 coastbound main carriageway and the coastbound distributor road over the A229 Chatham Road (locally known as Bluebell Hill). It is the area that currently has a 50mph speed restriction in place.

Preparations commence on 09 August and will have no impact on the carriageway, and works will then begin the following week on 15 August.

Work will be carried out between 8:00pm and 6:00am, Monday to Friday for the first phase of the work over the distributor road and Monday to Saturday for the second phase of work.

On Saturday nights, work will start at 9.00pm and will be removed on Sunday morning by 9.00am.

In order for the works to be carried out safely there will be speed restrictions in place and various forms of traffic management at different times, with signed diversion routes in place as detailed below.

Traffic Management - Phase One

Phase one will begin on Sunday 15 August with a closure of the M20 junction 6 coastbound distributor road 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is due to last for five to six weeks with the intended end date of this phase on the 24 September, however this is subject to change should the programme need to be altered.

Road users entering from the junction 5 (Aylesford) entry slip road wishing to access the main M20 carriageway will join the distributor road, then exit at the junction 6 exit slip road, go across Cobtree Roundabout and rejoin the M20 distributor road via the junction 6 entry slip road to continue with their journey.

From 15 August the A229 northbound distributor road will also be closed, but this will be overnight only. Road users will be diverted onto the A229 southbound at the Running Horse Roundabout. They will then rejoin the A229 northbound carriageway via the Royal Engineer Road Roundabout in Maidstone and continue northbound towards Chatham. Road users wanting to access the M20 coastbound will then be directed to exit onto the Lord Leas Roundabout and return on the A229 southbound carriageway. At the Cobtree Roundabout road users will take the first exit for the M20 coastbound carriageway. This work will be overnight from 8pm to 6am and is due to be completed by 27 August.

From the 28 August there will be closures of a section of the A229 Chatham Road northbound main carriageway, but this will also be overnight only. Road users on the A229 northbound Chatham Road will be diverted onto the A229 Chatham Road northbound distributor road via the Running Horse Roundabout. They will then rejoin the A229 Chatham Road main carriageway at the Cobtree Roundabout. This work will be overnight from 8pm to 6am and is due to be completed by 24 September.

Traffic Management - Phase Two

Phase two will begin once the traffic management on the M20 distributor road has been lifted. There will be 24 hour hard shoulder and inside lane closures on the main M20 carriageway at this location. Traffic will continue using the available lanes on the M20 whilst works are in progress. This phase due to last for two to three weeks, with an intended completion date of 15 October. However this is also subject to change.

The same traffic management as used in phase one for the A229 will also be used overnight in phase two. Works on the distributor will start when phase two commences, and is due to be completed by 29 September. Works on the section of the A229 main carriageway will then commence on 30 September, and are due to be completed by 15 October.

As part of this phase, there will also be one period of a 24 hour full closure of a section of the A229 Chatham Road main carriageway for three consecutive days, currently planned to take place from 9.00pm on Saturday 25 September to 6.00am on Wednesday 29 September. Road users on the A229 northbound Chatham road will be diverted onto the A229 Chatham Road northbound distributor road via the Running Horse Roundabout. They will then rejoin the A229 Chatham Road main carriageway at the Cobtree Roundabout.

Please accept our apologies in advance for any inconvenience caused by these works. We have programmed the works to try to keep disruption to a minimum and appreciate your co-operation throughout the scheme.

If you have any queries with regards to these works, please contact the Balfour Beatty Mott McDonald Customer Care Line on 0845 6000414 or email us on Area4@bbmmjv.com. Alternatively, you can call the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 504030.