M20 and A20 road works commence tonight impacting key Kent travel routes

A series of closures on the M20 and on the A20 will commence tonight (June 5), as improvement works begin. The M20 closures will take place between Maidstone and Chatham, impacting the London-bound carriageway from junction five to junction six.

These works are taking place as part of sustained efforts to repair and maintain the M20. Planned work will include the repairing of joints on the M20, which is described as ‘critical to maintaining and improving safety’.

Maintenance works are also required to the bearings on the underside of the M20. For this to be carried out safely, parts of the A229 will also need to be closed.

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The M20 London-bound is to be closed between junctions five and six from 8pm until 6am the following morning on Monday 5, Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 June. While the closures are in place, a diversion will be in effect from junction 6 via the A229, M2 and A228, re-joining the M20 at junction 4.

Following this, a closure will be in place at the M20 junction six coast-bound entry slip and distributor lane. This will take place from 8pm to 6am the following morning on Thursday 8, Friday 9, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June.

Motorists looking to join the M20 coastbound should travel London-bound to the next junction and return. The main M20 carriageway is to be open as normal and you will be able to leave the M20 coastbound at junction 6.

National Highways added: “Please note that these works are subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.” Meanwhile, essential works on the A20 will also commence this evening.

Repairs to the expansion joints on the Holywell Coombe Viaduct on the A20 just west of the Round Hill tunnel will take place. It is said that these works are critical for maintaining and improving safety.

The work will begin this evening and finish on the morning of Friday, June 16, taking place overnight between the hours of 8pm and 6am. National Highways has said: “To minimise disruption, we’ll work on weeknights only when there are fewer vehicles on the road.”

The road is to remain open as normal during the daytime. Exact details of the overnight A20 closures are as follows:

• Westbound between the Alkham Valley Road junction and M20 junction 13 from Monday 5 June for four nights

• Eastbound between M20 junction 13 and the Alkham Valley Road junction from Monday 12 June for four nights

During the westbound closures, a diversion route will be in place via the A268 and A259 – follow the square. During the eastbound closures, a diversion route will be in place via A259 and A268 – follow the circle.

Once again, the times and dates of these closures are subject to change if there is adverse weather or any unforeseen circumstances.

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