A2

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From:

London (TQ324797)

To:

Dover (TR3294158)

Length:

72.1 miles (116 km)

Meets:

M2, M25, A3, A20, A299, A28

Primary Destinations

Canterbury • Central London • Dover • London • Peckham •

Highways Authorities

Highways Agency, TfL, Kent, Medway

Traditional Counties

Kent

Route outline (key)

A2	Borough - Bricklayers Arms
A2	Bricklayers Arms - Strood
A2	Strood – Brenley Corner
A2	Brenley Corner – Dover

This article is about the A2 in England.
For the coast road in Northern Ireland, see A2 (Northern Ireland).

Route

This is the A2 at Ebbsfleet

Main Article: A2 route

The A2 has always been a busy road. Going from London to Dover, it largely follows the historic Watling Street from London to Dover via Canterbury, although it has had many upgrades over the years. Some sections are now D4M while one, the M2 now makes a section of the A2 non-primary.

History

The A2 at Ospringe, just south west of Faverham in 1969

Main Article: A2 history

The A2 has had a vast array of improvements since Classification. It is believed that the A2 had the earliest renumbering due to a building of a new road, in this case the First Dartford Bypass. There have been many more than that though since this is the road to the channel ports.

Notable locations and improvements

First and Second Dartford Bypasses

This is the A2 at Leyton Cross, just east of the Dartford Heath Interchange

Main Article: Dartford Bypasses

The A2 has had two Bypasses of Dartford. The First got so busy, the D3M second Bypass was built to replace it.

Pale Pale Interchange

This is the A2 at the Pale Vale where the M2 begins

Main Article: Park Pale Interchange

The Pale Pale Interchange was infamous for being the point where The A2 was a higher standard than the M2. Now it noted for its complex design.

Brenley Corner Interchange

The current layout of the junction.

Main Article: Brenley Corner Interchange

Brenley Corner is where the A2 becomes primary again after going though the Medway Towns. This is the point where the A2 once again takes over the trunk traffic from the M2.

Opening Dates

Month	Year	Section	Notes
May	2009	Bean to Cobham: Phase 2	Dual carriageway realignment and new junction with the A227.
	2003	Bean to Cobham: Phase 1	Dual carriageway Widening
	1999	Pale Vale Interchange	Improved Junction at Pale Vale Interchange.
	1999	A256	New Junction on Whitfield Bypass.
	1988	Rochester Way Relief Road	A relief road for the old Rochester Way.
	c1981	Canterbury Bypass	D2 Bypass of Canterbury
	1977	Jubilee Way	Short bypass of Eastern Dover
	1977	Whitfield Bypass	Short bypass of Whitfield
	1972	Second Dartford bypass	Dual carriageway bypass of existing bypass.
	c1969-72	Rochester Way	Dual carriageway upgrade
	1969	Singlewell	Dual carriageway upgrade
	1968	Southfleet to Singlewell & Singlewell to Cobham	Dual carriageway upgrade.
	1927	Rochester Way	New S2 Road bypassing Shooters Hill
November	1924	First Dartford Bypass	S2/D2 Bypass of Dartford.
	1922	Watling Street: Dartford to Rochester	Rebuild of old Roman Road to provide bypass of Gravesend.