United Kingdom – M2 Junction 4, Kent – safety works to strengthen bridges against collision.

Safety works are due to start on Monday May 8th 2006 to help strengthen bridge columns on three bridges over the M2 at Junction 4, near Gillingham, Kent. The works are due to finish in mid September 2006.

The bridge columns on the Farthing Corner and Gillingham east and west link bridges will be strengthened by pouring extra concrete into them which will help protect them against structural damage in the event of a vehicle striking the bridge.

Drivers will see the work on the seven mile (11km) section will take place during daytime hours between 07:30 BST to 17:00 BST on weekdays and between 07:30 BST and 12:30 BST on Saturdays.

For the safety of road users and the workforce, narrow lanes will be in place in order to provide a safe working area. Speed limits will also apply and drivers are asked to pay extra attention to the advanced warning signs.

The Highways Agency will be carrying out the traffic management in three phases.

• Phase one: on the London bound carriageway there will be a hard shoulder closure in place. Narrow lanes will be in place with a 50mph speed limit leading into a 40mph speed limit at the motorway services entry slip road.
• Phase two: on the coast bound carriageway there will be a hard shoulder closure in place. Narrow lanes will be in place with a speed limit of 50 mph.
• Phase three: central reservation works will be carried out, with lane 2 closures on both the London bound and coast bound carriageways. Narrow lanes will be in place and the hard shoulder will be used as a lane for drivers and a 50 mph speed limit will be in place.