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A20

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A20
Location Map ( geo)
Cameraicon.png View gallery (100)
From:  London (TQ365770)
To:  Dover (TR328415)
Distance:  71.2 miles (114.6 km)
Meets:  M20, M25, M26, A2
Former Number(s):  A2020
Primary Destinations
Highway Authorities

National Highways • Transport for London • Kent

Traditional Counties

Kent

Route outline (key)
A20 New Cross - Swanley
A20 Swanley - Wrotham Heath
A20 Wrotham Heath
A20 Wrotham Heath - Ashford
(A292) Ashford
A20 Ashford - Folkestone
(M20) Folkestone
A20 Folkestone - Dover
A20(M) Maidstone Bypass

Route

The East Kent section of A20 in Winter
Main Article: A20 route

The A20 is Kent's other major First 99 road. Its route to Dover is more southerly than the A2, passing towns like Maidstone, Ashford and Folkestone. Most of the route has been superseded by the M20. So today much of it is a busy local road. It is also the only First 99 road to end on the same road is it started on, the A2.

History

Roundhill Tunnel bores in 1991
Main Article: A20 history

The A20 has had many changes overs the years. It has been renumbered in Maidstone, by-pass Sidcup, Swanley and Farmingham and been superseded by the M20. Also it used to be ultra busy when the British Grand Prix was at Brands Hatch. That ended in 1986 and since 1993, there has been little work done on the A20 itself.

Notable locations and improvements

Swanley Interchange

View of the interchange from the B2173
Main Article: Swanley Interchange

The Swanley Interchange is where the A20 hands over Trunk status to the M20. First built in 1968, it has changed massively since then with the M20 in 1978 & the M25 opening in 1986, today it is a very busy junction. So busy, there are Traffic lights on it.

Ashford Bypass

The Ashford Bypass today
Main Article: Ashford Bypass

The Ashford Bypass is a bypass of Ashford. First planned before World War II and finally built in 1956, it provided relief to the town of Ashford. In 1983, most of it became M20 and today is not part of the A20.

Channel Tunnel

Channel tunnel terminus from Castle Hill
Main Article: Channel Tunnel

The Channel Tunnel is one of the reasons much of the A20 is non-primary today. Opening in 1994, it offered new ways to get to France.

Roundhill Tunnel

Roundhill Tunnel going Eastbound
Main Article: Roundhill Tunnel

Roundhill Tunnel is a pair of bored tunnels in Folkestone. They were built in 1993.

Improvements Timeline and Opening Dates

Lenham Bypass east end, looking towards London
Main Article: A20/Improvements Timeline

Do you want to know when an A20 bypass or dual carriageway section was built or opened? This article tables each scheme from London to Dover and can be also be listed in date or location order. Includes tables for early single carriageway schemes, dual carriageways and superceded sections.

Pictures


Links

Roads UK



A20
Projects
Junctions
Alkham Valley Interchange • Aylesford Interchange • Beachborough Cross Roads • Birchwood Corner • Bridges Gyratory • Castle Hill Interchange • Cheriton Interchange • Cliftons Roundabout • Courtwood Interchange • Crittalls Corner • Drovers Roundabout • Eastern Docks Roundabout • Eltham Green Interchange • Frognal Corner • Hollingbourne Interchange • Kemnal Corner • Kidbrooke Interchange • Lacton Interchange • Lee Green • Limekiln Roundabout • Loampit Vale • M20 J9 • New Cross (South London) • Prince of Wales Junction • Sevington Interchange • Stanford Interchange • Swanley Interchange • Westborough Interchange • Western Heights Roundabout • Wrotham Heath Interchange • Wrotham Hill Interchange • York Street Junction
Services
Crossings
Roads
Places
Ashford • Dover • Folkestone • Lewisham • London • Maidstone • Swanley
Miscellaneous
Related Pictures
View gallery (100)
The A20 Dual Carriageway becomes the M20 Motorway.jpgDover Docks - Geograph - 144589.jpgA20 Road - Geograph - 1711986.jpgOld and Older Still - Coppermine - 17239.jpgRoundabout on A20 London Road - Geograph - 1196272.jpg
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A1-A99
The First 99           A1  •  A2  •  A3  •  A4  •  A5  •  A6  •  A7  •  A8  •  A9  • A10 • A11 • A12 • A13 • A14 • A15 • A16 • A17 • A18 • A19
A20 • A21 • A22 • A23 • A24 • A25 • A26 • A27 • A28 • A29 • A30 • A31 • A32 • A33 • A34 • A35 • A36 • A37 • A38 • A39
A40 • A41 • A42 • A43 • A44 • A45 • A46 • A47 • A48 • A49 • A50 • A51 • A52 • A53 • A54 • A55 • A56 • A57 • A58 • A59
A60 • A61 • A62 • A63 • A64 • A65 • A66 • A67 • A68 • A69 • A70 • A71 • A72 • A73 • A74 • A75 • A76 • A77 • A78 • A79
A80 • A81 • A82 • A83 • A84 • A85 • A86 • A87 • A88 • A89 • A90 • A91 • A92 • A93 • A94 • A95 • A96 • A97 • A98 • A99
Motorway sectionsA1(M): (South Mimms - Baldock • Alconbury - Peterborough • Doncaster Bypass • Darrington - Birtley)
A3(M) • A8(M) Baillieston spur • A38(M) • A48(M) Cardiff spur • A57(M) • A58(M) • A64(M) • A66(M) • A74(M) • A92(M)
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