M2 junction 5 improvements

Latest updates

• 16 April 2024

  South Green Link Road update

  Work is progressing well on the South Green Link Road (the former A249 southbound), which will link South Green Lane to Oad Street. The bottom of South Green Lane is closed to maintain the safety of our workforce and the travelling public.

  We’re currently working to improve drainage on the link road and the A249 itself. This includes the installation of two large attenuation tanks, these storage tanks take run-off from the road, reducing the risk of flooding on and around the carriageways. We expect this work to take around eight weeks. Once this is complete, we’ll be able to surface the road so it is ready to be opened.

  We recognise that some of the lanes around our work are not suitable for all vehicles, so we’re allowing large vehicles through our working area on South Green Lane. Please approach our gatemen on Oad Street or South Green Lane for an escort. There could be a short wait while we make it safe to pass.

  We currently expect the South Green Link Road to be open in mid-June. However, this work is subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress.

  Thank you once again for your patience as we work to create a safer junction for everyone. 

  ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’

  Maybe you’d create a pen that can help with spelling, a football that changes colour when it’s off-side or even a solar powered car.

  These were just some of the ideas put forward by pupils for The Primary Engineers Awards run by Primary Engineer that were reviewed by some of the real-life engineers on our M2 junction 5 scheme.

  The competition encourages pupils from primary and secondary schools across the UK to look at the world around them and find engineered solutions to common problems.

  Pupils interview engineering professionals, identify a problem and design a solution – ‘finding the engineer they could be’. And our team were delighted to find the ideas and thoughts of the pupils, aged between of 3 to 10, inspirational, thoughtful, insightful, and hilarious, marking many of them with a distinction.

  

  Project manager Dan commented: “It was a real inspiration to see the submissions from the next generation of engineers, to view the world in their eyes was amazing and it was clear that the future is in very good hands. It was a privilege to be a part of the day.”

  We thought you’d might like to see what our engineers on the scheme have been doing with some recent shots of the new Stockbury flyover, and work around junction 5.

  

  

   

• 08 April 2024

  Oad Street link to Stockbury Roundabout open

  The Oad Street link onto the Stockbury Roundabout opened at 6am this morning (Monday 8 April). The new, upgraded road joins directly to the roundabout, rather than the A249 southbound, providing a safer route for traffic entering or exiting Oad Street.

  Thank you for your patience. 

   

  A249 southbound open

  We’re pleased to announce that we’re ahead of schedule and the A249 southbound (towards Maidstone) reopened on Thursday 28 March to help motorists over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

  The M2 London-bound off slip was also reopened this ahead of Easter. 

  Over the last five weeks, we’ve made huge progress on the southern section of our scheme, this includes the new A249 carriageways, and M2 London bound off slip. We’ve also started on the new South Green link road, which will connect South Green Lane to the Stockbury Roundabout. Thank you for your patience.

  The A249 southbound carriageway is accessible from the new A249 southbound entry slip, located next to the Stockbury flyover.

   

  Scheme help local charity to have egg-traordinary Easter 🐣

  Over the last month, the project team have been busy bunnies 🐰 collecting over 280 Easter eggs for local children’s charity, Demelza!

  The hospice, located near our site in Sittingbourne, provides specialist care and attention to children with life limiting conditions. Demelza, doesn’t only provide care to these egg-starordinary children, but also their families.

  The support this organisation provides in the local community makes them egg-stra deserving of this collection, and we're thrilled to hand deliver the eggs ahead of the bank holiday weekend. We even made sure that we donated special dietary requirement Easter eggs, catering for all the children at the hospice.

  

   

  Where you can find out more

  We understand you might have some questions about these closures, we pulled together some of the ones we've been asked here.

  If you'd like to speak to someone, the team will be at Oad Street Food and Crafts café on Wednesday 10 April between 10am and 12 noon, and again from 5pm to 7pm.

  You can also email us at M2J5@nationalhighways.co.uk or call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, who will pass your details on to the team.

• 14 March 2024

  Planned closures during February and March - updated

  As we enter our final year of the scheme, we’d like to thank you for your patience while we work to improve M2 junction 5 Stockbury Roundabout to provide a safer junction for everyone.

  The next phase will see us constructing the new A249 carriageways to the south of the roundabout. This will include removing the existing road and building up the layers that will form the new carriageway, as well as drainage, construction of the central reservation, and safety barrier improvements.

  As the new road is being built in the same place as the existing carriageway, to safely carry out this work, we need to close the southbound (towards Maidstone) A249 carriageway between the Stockbury Roundabout and Church Hill for five weeks – please see details below.

  We’ll also need some closures on the northbound carriageway. These will be at weekends or overnight to minimise disruption. Northbound traffic will be moved to the southbound carriageway as our work progresses.

  We understand closures are frustrating, but these short term disruptions will benefit road users and the local community for many years to come. Thank you again for your understanding and patience.

  Closure information - updated 14 March

  Monday 19 February to Saturday 30 March – closure of Church Hill exit

  The Church Hill exit on to the A249 is closed until 5am Saturday 30 March. This will allow us to build the new junction with Church Hill.

  Diversion: please use Chalky Road or Bull Lane to join the A249.

  There will be traffic lights in place to allow access into Church Hill on weekdays, however there will be some full overnight and weekend closures. Please keep an eye on our project website and signage for further information.

  We’ll be allowing larger vehicles to use the Church Hill exit while it is closed, this will be by arrangement only. If you need access for larger vehicles during the closure, please email us on M2J5@nationalhighways.co.uk with your contact details and one of the team will be in touch to discuss.

   

  Friday 23 February to Saturday 30 March – A249 southbound closure

  The A249 southbound from the Stockbury Roundabout to Church Hill, along with the M2 junction 5 London-bound exit slip, are closed until 5am Saturday 30 March. Please note, there will be no access to the A249 from Oad Street or South Green Lane.

  Diversion: a signed diversion will be in place via the M2, A229, M20 and A249. For non-motorway traffic, please use A249, A2, A229, A249.

  To leave the M2 London-bound and join the A249 towards Sittingbourne, please stay on the M2 to junction 4 and return to junction 5 on the coastbound carriageway.

   

  Friday 15 to Monday 25 March – M2 London-bound entry slip overnight and weekend closures

  We need to close the Stockbury Roundabout exit to the M2 junction 5 London-bound while we construct the central reservation between the two parts of the slip. The dedicated link from the A249 southbound (from Sittingbourne) to the M2 London-bound will remain open.  The closure will be in place:

  • 8pm Friday 15 March to 5am Monday 18 March – this is a full weekend
  • Monday 18 to Friday 22 March, 8pm to 5am each night
  • 8pm Friday 22 March to 5am Monday 25 March – this is a full weekend

  Diversion: to join the M2 London-bound from Stockbury Roundabout please use the A249 northbound to Key Street Roundabout, and join the A249 southbound to use the M2 London-bound dedicated link.

  We had hoped to complete this without any closures on the entry slip, however this is not possible.

   

  Monday 18 to Friday 22 March – M2 coastbound exit slip overnight lane closures

  The dedicated link between the M2 coastbound and the A249 northbound (towards Sittingbourne) will be closed overnight Monday 18 to Friday 22 March from 8pm to 5am each night. During the closures, please use the Stockbury Roundabout to join the A249 northbound from the M2 coastbound.

   

  Thursday 28 and Friday 29 March – A249 northbound overnight closures

  We’ll be closing the A249 northbound between M20 junction 7 and the Stockbury Roundabout overnight again on Thursday 28 March and Friday 29 March between 8pm and 5am each night.

  Access for residents of the A249, Detling and Stockbury will be maintained from the M20 junction 7 during the closures.

  Diversion: please use the M20, A229, M2 and A249. For non-motorway traffic please use the A249, A229, A2 and A249.

  When the road reopens at 5am on Saturday 30 March, both sides of the A249 will be open.

   

  What other work we’ll be doing during the closure

  While the A249 is closed, we’ll also be working on the southern links to the upgraded junction, including:

  • The A249 southbound (towards Maidstone) exit from the Stockbury Roundabout
  • The northbound (towards Sheppey) A249 onto the Stockbury flyover.
  • The South Green link road that will connect South Green Lane and Oad Street to the Stockbury Roundabout.
  • The M2 London-bound exit slip.

  Where you can find out more

  We understand you might have some questions about these closures, we pulled together some of the ones we've been asked here.

  If you'd like to speak to someone, the team will be at Oad Street Food and Crafts café on Wednesday 13 March between 10am and 12 noon, and again from 5pm to 7pm.

  You can also email us at M2J5@nationalhighways.co.uk or call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, who will pass your details on to the team.

• 04 March 2024

  Scheme hits the big ‘5-0’, or should that be the big ‘5-5-0-0-0-0’

  With safety at the heart of the scheme, we’re delighted to celebrate 550,000 working hours without a Lost Time Incident (LTI)* – that’s the equivalent of almost 63 years.

  We spoke to project manager Dan to find out more: “This is a fantastic achievement made possible through the team’s continual focus on retaining a safe environment for everyone working on, visiting and driving past the scheme.

  “It’s also a good opportunity for the team to reflect on how much we’ve achieved during that time – the last of the retaining side panels has just been installed on the flyover, three free-flowing slips are open and work is underway to build the new carriageway south of the roundabout – all while making sure each and every one of us goes home safely each day.”

  *LTI is a standard measure within the construction industry, and relates to accidents that requires a person to take time off work.

  

• 22 January 2024

  A look at the year ahead

  Now 2024 is well underway, we thought we’d take a quick look at the work we’ll be completing in this, the final year of construction on the scheme.

  We’ve already seen heavy rain, hailstorms, and even snow this year! But work continues to progress well, and we’re on track for our winter 2024 completion date.

  In the coming months, work will gather pace to the south of the Stockbury Roundabout, as we start on the new carriageways for the A249 southbound and northbound, drainage improvements and connections to the Stockbury flyover.

  We’ll also be finishing the A249 main carriageway to the north of the Stockbury Roundabout, and connecting it into the northern side of the Stockbury flyover. When complete, we’ll move Maidstone-bound traffic onto the new carriageway, and away from the slip road that is currently being used.

  In early summer, we’ll be opening the new ‘South Green Link Road’. This road, currently carrying A249 southbound traffic, will connect South Green Lane and Oad Street directly to the Stockbury Roundabout, where traffic can join the A249 and the M2 in all directions.

  Later in the year, we’ll open the centrepiece of our project – the new Stockbury flyover. The flyover will provide free movement for drivers travelling on the A249, without the need to pass through the Stockbury roundabout, helping to improve journey times and safety.

  As construction comes to an end, you’ll also see extensive landscaping and planting around the junction.  We’re increasing the natural woodland habitat by over 8.7 hectares (87,000²) by planting a mixture of native trees and shrubs, leaving a lasting natural legacy around the site.

  Come and meet the team

  We’ll be at the Oad Street Food and Crafts café on Wednesday 14 February between 10am and 12 noon, and again from 5pm to 7pm. Please do pop in to see us if you have any queries about the scheme.

  You can also email us at M2J5@nationalhighways.co.uk or call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, who will pass your details on to the team.

• 20 December 2023

  Looking back at a busy year on the M2 junction 5

  As we approach the end of 2023, let’s take a moment to look back on the significant achievements reached across the scheme, as we work to provide a safer and more integrated network for everyone.

  • Opening of dedicated slip roads linking the coastbound M2 and A249:

  This year has seen us open new and improved dedicated slip roads between the A249 coming from Maidstone to the M2 coastbound, and from the M2 coastbound to the A249 heading towards Sheppey. This allows traffic on these routes to flow freely on and off the motorway without passing through the Stockbury Roundabout.

  • Maidstone Road link:

  The new Maidstone Road link takes traffic to Oad Street, rather than directly onto the Stockbury Roundabout. Once the scheme is complete, traffic will be able to use the Stockbury Roundabout to safely access or leave Oad Street.

  

  • Dedicated M2 London-bound slip road:

  The construction of a new dedicated slip road for traffic coming from the Sheppey and Sittingbourne direction to join the M2 London-bound has reduced delays by removing the need to join the roundabout.

  • Stockbury flyover:

  In the autumn, concrete bridge beams were installed on high supports that have been built on both the south and north sides of the Stockbury Roundabout. These beams form the bases of the ramps that will take traffic onto the new flyover being built over the Stockbury Roundabout.

  

  The sides of these ramps are clad with specially designed flint and cobble panels, which you can already see being fitted, and reflect the surrounding Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

  • Opening the new Stockbury Roundabout:

  November saw us open the new, larger Stockbury Roundabout. Built round the old one, we were able to minimise disruption to traffic using the roundabout during construction.

  With the new roundabout open, you’ll start to see the central flyover section taking shape as we get ready to connect the two bridges that have been built either side of the roundabout. Once complete, the flyover will provide free movement for anyone travelling on the A249, helping to improve journey times and safety.

  

  • In the community:

  We’ve also been busy supporting the local community, including tree planting in Hartlip, enhancing accessibility at Newington Parish Council, and offering tech assistance to small businesses in Stockbury. The teams dedicated to creating a lasting impact resulted in the project earning top marks Considerate Construction Scheme (CCS) – not once, but twice this year!

  Find out more on our dedicated webpage.

  Dan, our Project Manager for M2 junction 5, commented: “We’ve achieved several key milestones this year, including the opening of three new dedicated slip roads and the realignment of the roundabout. The team have worked incredibly hard to keep the scheme on schedule, reduce disruption for drivers and the community, while always maintaining the highest level of safety. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we work to upgrade the junction.

  “I’m excited for 2024 and we’re currently on track to deliver this project on time, bringing benefits to the thousands of drivers that use the junction daily.”

  We would like to wish you an enjoyable festive holiday and a happy 2024.

  Getting in the festive mood...

  With the holidays approaching, we got into the festive spirit on the scheme.

  Ready, set, glow…

  We’re ‘de-lighted’ to donate new Christmas lights to Stockbury. These lights are now shining over the village green.

  Following the donation, Chris Porter from the Harrow said:“Stockbury village had some really pretty lights in a tree on the village green, in front of The Harrow, which came on at night. Unfortunately the lights failed three years ago and we could not replace them. I was contacted by the project team who kindly offered to pay for replacement lights, which are now in place and looking really good. Many thanks on behalf of all in the village.”

  

  Donations to local charities

  We understand that sometimes people need a helping hand, especially at this time of year. We’ve made donations the Maidstone Homeless Care to support the work they do all year round to help those on the streets.

  

  We held a collection in the office for a range of children’s toys to donate to Demelza Hospice for Children in Sittingbourne. Each year the charity collects thousands of pounds worth of toys to give to the children at the hospice, that experience serious life limiting conditions.

  Arriving in a site van rather than a sledge, the sack was overflowing with toys including remote control cars, board games and dolls.

  

  We’re committed to making a real difference for the communities who live near our roads, especially where we’re carrying our major improvements.

  You can find out more about the activities we've been doing in the community around our improvement scheme at junction 5 on the M2 on here.

  Come and meet the team

  We’ll be at the Oad Street Food and Crafts café on Wednesday 10 January between 10am and 12 noon, and again from 5pm to 7pm. Please do pop in to see us if you have any queries about the scheme.

  You can also email us at M2J5@nationalhighways.co.uk or call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, who will pass your details on to the team.

• 30 October 2023

  Second bridge lift is beaming marvellous

  And just like that, our next set of beams were in place.

  Weighing more than eight fully grown African elephants, and almost as long as two double-decker buses, 18 pre-cast concrete beams were lifted into place to the north of the Stockbury roundabout at the end of last week, as the new flyover continues to take shape.

  These giant beams were placed onto the supports, known as abutments, that have been built to the north of the roundabout, and forms the base for this section of the new flyover.

  A 450-tonne crane was used to lift into place the two edge beams weighing 56-tonnes each and 16 beams in the middle weighing 20-tonnes each. Getting the 22.5-metre-long beams into place was a delicate and challenging task, and we were able to do it all while keeping traffic flowing on the roads through the junction.

  The flyover is a key part of our improvements at this busy junction. Passing over the Stockbury Roundabout, it will provide free movement for anyone travelling on the A249, helping to improve journey times and safety.

  

  

  

  

  

  

• 24 October 2023

  Next Stockbury flyover beam lift, and a quick progress update

  This week will also see another big beam lift on site. Eighteen beams will be lifted into place to the north of the roundabout, as the new Stockbury flyover continues to take shape.

  The beams will be lifted onto the supports, also known as abutments, that have been built to the north of the roundabout, forming the base for this section of the new flyover. You may notice a large crane arrive on site soon ready for the lift.

  

  We’ll be keeping the current traffic management set up on the junction during the lift, there will be no additional closures.

  Ahead of the lift, we thought we’d take a quick look at how things are progressing.

  

  Two new dedicated slip roads are now open for traffic travelling between the A249 and M2. And since the installation of the 18 beams to the south-side of the roundabout, we’ve been working on the different layers that form the road deck for this section of the flyover.

  We’re progressing well with the installation of the specially designed flint and cobble walls to the flyover – we think they look fantastic.

  

  You may have wondered what the new circular road being built round the existing roundabout is? That’s the new larger roundabout, and we’re hoping to have this ready for traffic soon.

  

  In the community

  It was ‘on your marks…set…bake’ on the scheme recently, all in the name of charity.

  With rewards handed out for star baker, and the best faker, the team enjoyed a well-earned coffee and cake break as part of the nationwide Macmillan Coffee Morning, all while raising an amazing £413.

  

  And after enjoying all those cakes, ten volunteers took the opportunity to burn some calories by spending the day helping local charity Dandelion Time. Based in Maidstone, the charity works with Kent children who are experiencing serious behavioural and emotional difficulties as a result of trauma, together with their families.

  The farm setting provides the opportunity for families to experiment, play and connect within its fields, gardens, and woodland, and the volunteers spent the day carrying out garden maintenance including planting, weeding and bramble clearing. And anyone found assing around, got the special job of mucking out the donkey stables!

  

• 18 August 2023

  Stockbury flyover starts to take shape

  What’s almost as long as two double-decker buses and weighs more than eight fully grown African elephants? It’s our new bridge beams!

  And there’s not two, three or even ten of them, there’s 18…

  These giant precast concrete beams will support the road deck on the southside of the new flyover at the Stockbury roundabout, part of our improvements on the M2 at junction 5. And you may have spotted over the last few months, the team has been getting ready for their arrival by building supports – also known as abutments – for the beams to sit on.

  A 450-tonne mega crane was used to lift into place the two edge beams weighing 56-tonnes each and 16 beams in the middle weighing 20-tonnes each. Getting the 22.5-metre-long beams into place was a delicate and challenging task, and all while keeping traffic flowing on the roads through the junction.

  If you missed the action, here it is in around three minutes.

   

  We’re also delighted to have recently reached another momentous milestone – with more than 355,000 manhours worked on the scheme without a serious injury.

  We caught up with project manager Dan to find out more: “Construction sites can be dangerous places, and this scheme is being delivered alongside live traffic lanes to help minimise disruption, bringing in an additional safety risk. 355,000 safe hours is a really is a fantastic achievement, and testament to the project’s commitment to keep everyone safe, each and every day.”

  M2 maintenance work

  Separate from the improvement scheme, we're carrying out maintenance work on the M2, including resurfacing and bridge repairs. For more information about this work, visit our south east maintenance webpage.

• 19 July 2023

  M2 coastbound link to A249 now open

  The new link between the M2 coastbound and A249 northbound is now open. Thank you to everyone for your patience and support while we made the road ready for traffic and linked it to the existing slip road off the M2.

  This link has allowed us to start to remove the old A249 north of the roundabout. You’ll soon see piling machines arrive to begin on the construction of the supports for the northern side of the new flyover. Piling is a common construction technique that requires long vertical foundations to be drilled into the earth and filled with concrete for support.

  The scheme continues to be on track for completion in winter 2024.

  Local MP visits scheme

  We recently welcomed Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson for a tour of the scheme, and to talk through the progress we’ve made since his last visit in September 2022.

  During the visit he saw the recently completed Maidstone Road link and progress on the retaining walls and supports, also known as abutments, for the bridges that will link the new Stockbury flyover.

  Following the visit, Gordon said: “It is amazing to see the shell of the flyover, that is now noticeable. It will be fantastic when, sometime next year, you will be able to drive from Sheppey directly to Maidstone”.  

  

• 15 May 2023

  Changes to how you use the A249

  Closure of the access to Stockbury roundabout from Maidstone Road

  On Monday 24 April, we closed the section of Maidstone Road that links to the Stockbury roundabout, south of Wormdale Hill.

  While we're working on the new link to Oad Street, there will be no access to the roundabout from Maidstone Road. We’re currently due to open the new link on Monday 19 June 2023.

  To access to properties and businesses on Chestnut Street and Maidstone Road, please use the Key Street roundabout.

  

  Changes to the A249 south of the Stockbury roundabout

  To allow us to start prep work for the flyover we’ve moved traffic heading southbound on the A249 from the Stockbury roundabout onto the new road next to the old southbound carriageway, this is shown above.

  While this move is temporary, this new road will later become a key part of our finished scheme - the new Oad Street link road. Once opened at the end of this year, it will give direct access to the Stockbury roundabout from Oad Street, Pett Lane and South Green. The road will also be the access for residents of Maidstone Road and Chestnut Street to the Stockbury roundabout.

  There’s currently no right turn from the Oad Street junction on to the northbound A249. To join the northbound carriageway, turn left, go to M20 junction 7 and return on the A249 northbound.

  Map of diversion route

  Northbound traffic approaching the Stockbury roundabout on the A249 has also moved to the old southbound carriageway, as shown above.

  Scheme gains top marks

  We’re delighted to have been rated as excellent by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS).

  CCS is an independent organisation that promotes and supports construction sites in their efforts to care for the environment, local community and their workforce.

  The project was awarded 45/45, with the assessor commenting that “the team are striving to go one step further to ensure they are showing consideration across all three sections of the schemes core code”.

  Following the review, project manager Dan said: “The complexities of the building a project of this size cannot be underestimated, and I am delighted that we have been able to achieve a score of 45/45 whilst doing so. It is a reflection of all the hard work the project team have been doing.”

  

   

• 22 September 2021

  Want to know more about our work on the M2 junction 5?

  Our virtual exhibition is open

  Our work to start the M2 junction 5 improvements begins at the end of the month, with site clearance taking place before the main construction work starts in January 2022.

  You can visit our virtual exhibition to find out more about the scheme, what we’ll be doing and when, and how we’ll be protecting the environment throughout construction, along with a host of other information.

  The project team will also be on hand at the following times to any questions you may have:

  Wednesday 22 September from 9am – 12pm

  Thursday 23 September from 3pm – 6pm

  Friday 24 September from 10am – 1pm 

  Saturday 25 September from 9am – 12pm

  Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter on the right-hand side of this page to stay up to date with the project as construction begins.

  As restrictions have been lifted, we’ll also be running some face-to-face events in late October. The dates, timings and locations of the events will be advertised here on our project website and through our social media channels.

  You’re also welcome to call us on 0300 123 5000 or email us at m2j5@nationalhighways.co.uk to speak to one of the team about the project.

  Preparation work – September 2021 to January 2022: Site clearance, compound installation and utility pipe diversions

  We will soon be starting preparation work at the end of the month, which need to be completed in order for us to begin the main construction activities in January 2022.

  These works will include:

  • The diversion of water pipes, electricity and phone lines
  • The installation of a site compound
  • Vegetation and site clearance

  The majority of these works will be taking place away from the roads, but some lane and full closures will be required. These will be advertised both here, as well as through our social media channels.

• 21 June 2021

  Public Inquiry decision announced

  Today we welcomed the Secretary of State for Transport’s decision to approve our proposed improvements for M2 junction 5 Stockbury Interchange. The decision can be viewed on Programme Officer’s website. 

  Thank you to everyone for their engagement and contribution in the development of the scheme to date.

  Improving the Stockbury Interchange will bring real benefits to the drivers who use this junction daily, and it will improve the flow of traffic around this junction, providing a safer and more integrated network for everyone.

  Further information regarding the consultation and decision is available on the Programme Officer’s website. 

  To make sure you know what’s coming up, sign up to our project newsletter using the sign-up link below, we’ll also be providing regular updates on this page.