Hot on the heels of news that drivers face three years of roadworks on the A2 at Bean and Ebbsfleet, Kent County Council (KCC) has unveiled plans to carry out further improvements at a nearby link road.

The A206 St Clements Way runs between Dartford and Greenhithe and provides links to the Dartford Crossing and the A2, as well as access to Bluewater, Crossways Business Park, and Greenhithe railway station.

In the face of substantial housing developments planned for the area, KCC is prepping a £6.9 million scheme to increase roundabout capacity, provide new bus lanes, and upgrade pedestrian crossings.

The London Road/St Clements Way roundabout will get bigger, and the bus lanes will run in both directions between the London Road and Crossways Boulevard roundabouts along St Clements Way.

KCC believes the new bus lanes are needed to accommodate a planned expansion of the Fastrack service and improve journey times.

New traffic lights will be installed at pedestrian crossings and a footpath running along St Clements Way, between London Road and Mounts Road, will be converted to a shared cycle path.

KCC also wants to install a noise fence to screen residents affected by the increased traffic.

Matthew Balfour, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “Our plans for this are currently in the design process with a view to work starting in the spring of next year.

“This improvement scheme forms part of a wider package of improvements – such as work on the A2 Bean junction – and is aimed at reducing congestion and catering for future growth and development in the area.

“I would encourage everyone in the area who would like to find out more about our plans to come along to the public exhibition and talk to us and ask any questions you may have.”

The public exhibition will be held at St Mary’s Church Hall in London Road, Greenhithe, on Friday, February 24 between 2.30pm and 6pm and on Saturday, February 25 between 9.30am and
noon.

KCC has secured £4.2 million of government funding for the project via a successful bid from South East Local Enterprise Partnership, which also secured cash for planned improvements to Dartford town centre, as reported in last week’s Messenger.

The remaining £2.7 million is being provided by contributions from developers.

Following the consultation, KCC is aiming to have design work complete by the end of spring and to appoint a contractor in the autumn. Vegetation clearance would start early next year, with construction beginning in the spring and wrapping up in 2018.