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Highways bosses have released a time-lapse video showing the installation of a new bridge as part of a huge infrastructure project.
A new flyover has been constructed east of the existing Bean Lane bridge, as part of major junction improvements between Dartford and Gravesend.
Watch as the bridge beams are put into place at Bean. Credit: Highways England
A small section of the A2 was closed near Bluewater over the weekend – causing long delays and disruption – so that a crane, spanning the carriageway, could lift the new beams into place.
The beams were manufactured in Darlington before being transported to Kent.
In the time-lapse clip released by Highways England, a crane can be seen manoeuvring the beams into place before workers use heavy machinery to secure the mammoth structures into place.
At the Bean junction, the new bridge will be constructed for southbound traffic, which will be to the east of the existing Bean Lane overbridge.
A new slip road will be built onto the A2 for eastbound traffic while northbound traffic will continue to use the existing overbridge.
Promotional video about Bean Junction upgrades on A2 near Bluewater. Photo: Highways England
Work was due to take place on the busy route earlier this month but was postponed after the company appointed to build the beams entered administration.
When considering the best time to undergo the works, Highways England previously said it had been working with its subcontractors to deliver this part of the project as soon as possible and had factored in bank holiday traffic into its decision-making.
It added that it appreciated "the impacts this may cause".
In the coming years the Bean and Ebbsfleet junctions will serve developments such as Ebbsfleet Garden City where there are plans for 15,000 new homes.
Highways England say the improvements are necessary and will improve journey times, increase capacity and support economic development.
It comes after its traffic modelling indicated that without the changes, the road network will become highly congested resulting in considerable delays and environmental issues.
