A2
A2 | |||||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | |||||||||||||
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From: | London (TQ324797) | ||||||||||||
To: | Dover (TR3294158) | ||||||||||||
Distance: | 72.1 miles (116 km) | ||||||||||||
Meets: | M2, M25, A3, A20, A299, A28 | ||||||||||||
Primary Destinations | |||||||||||||
Highway Authorities | |||||||||||||
Traditional Counties | |||||||||||||
Route outline (key) | |||||||||||||
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For the coast road in Northern Ireland, see A2 (Northern Ireland).
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 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
The A2 has had two Bypasses of Dartford. The First got so busy, the D3M second Bypass was built to replace it.
Park Pale Interchange
The Park 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
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
Year | Section | Notes |
---|---|---|
1922 | Watling Street: Dartford to Rochester | Rebuild of old Roman Road to provide bypass of Gravesend. |
1924 | First Dartford Bypass | S2/D2 Bypass of Dartford. |
1927 | Rochester Way | New S2 Road bypassing Shooters Hill |
1963 | Canterbury: Rheims Way | Dual carriageway (now A2050 and A290) |
1963 | Sittingbourne: St. Michael's Way | Berry Street to Shortlands Road. Initially unclassified. |
1968 | Southfleet to Singlewell & Singlewell to Cobham | Dual carriageway upgrade. |
1969 | Singlewell | Dual carriageway upgrade |
c1969-72 | Rochester Way | Dual carriageway upgrade |
1971 | Second Dartford bypass | Dual carriageway bypass of existing bypass. |
1974 | Barham Dualling | Additional carriageway from Barham Crossroads south-east to Ropersole Farm. Opened on 24 September 1974 per the Land Compensation Act notice. Also re-alignment and improvement between Out Elmstead Lane and south-east of Geddings Lane, Oak Pollard. |
1976 | Barham Downs Dualling | Additional carriageway from Bishopsbourne Road to Black Robin Lane (south-east of Bridge). Opened on 14 June 1976 per the Land Compensation Act notice. |
1976 | Harbledown and Upper Harbledown Bypass | S2 Bypass |
1976 | Bridge Bypass | D2 Bypass of Bridge Village |
1976 | Boughton and Dunkirk Bypass | D2 Bypass of Boughton and Dunkirk villages. |
1977 | Whitfield Bypass | Short bypass of Whitfield |
1977 | Dover Eastern Bypass | Jubilee Way. D2 / single carriageway |
1978 | Broughton Dualling | Westbound carriageway from Denstead Lane to the Gate Inn, west of the current Harbledown Interchange. Opened on 11 December 1978 per the Land Compensation Act notice. |
1981 | Canterbury Bypass | D2 Bypass of Canterbury |
1988 | Rochester Way Relief Road | A relief road for the old Rochester Way. |
1992 | London Boundary - M2 | 14.6 mile upgrade to D3 |
1999 | A256 | New Junction on Whitfield Bypass. |
1999 | Pale Vale Interchange | Improved Junction at Pale Vale Interchange. |
2003 | Bean to Cobham: Phase 1 | Dual carriageway Widening |
2009 | Bean to Cobham: Phase 2 | Dual carriageway realignment and new junction with the A227. |
2011 | A2/A28 Junction (Canterbury Bypass) | New Londonbound On-Slip |
Videos
AEC Dump Trucks and Mercury Lorries - Eltham Relief Road
Taken back in 1986 we see AEC Mercury lorries at work on the construction of the A2 Rochester Way Eltham by-pass
Links
National Highways
- Post Opening Project Evaluation - A2/A282 Dartford Improvement and M25 J1b-3 Widening - Five Years After November 2015 (archive.org)
- Post Opening Project Evaluation - A2 Bean to Cobham (Phase 2) - Five Years After October 2015 (archive.org)
Rainham (Kent) Southern Relief Road
This page was a candidate for Article of the Month October 2009 | ||