M2
M2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medway Towns Bypass | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From: | Strood (TQ699695) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To: | Brenley Corner (TR040599) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance: | 25.5 miles (41 km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meets: | A2, A228, A229, A249, A2, A299 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Number(s): | A2(M) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highway Authorities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Counties | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route outline (key) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Junction List | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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For the motorway in Northern Ireland, see M2 (Northern Ireland).
For the motorway in the Republic of Ireland, see M2 (Republic of Ireland).
The M2 is a motorway in the north of Kent. It forms a bypass of the Medway Towns.
Route
Main Article: M2 route
The M2 is the shortest of all the single-digit motorways. It main role is to act as the Medway Towns Bypass. Originally allocated the number A2(M), it gained the M2 number from a newspaper report. The road opened in 1963.
Opening Dates
History
Main Article: M2 history
The M2 has changed from its opening in 1963. This is how the M2 looked upon opening. It is D2M with a single bridge.
The 7 Junctions
Park Pale Interchange
Main Article: Park Pale Interchange
The first junction before the upgrade was infamous for the point where the motorway was a lower standard than the A-road, in this case the A2. These days, the junction is a trumpet–fork hybrid.
Merrals Shaw Interchange
Main Article: Merrals Shaw Interchange
The second of the junctions to be rebuilt, this one (for the A228) was turned from a parclo to a dumbbell hybrid interchange. It was also rebuilt to accommodate HS1.
Bluebell Interchange
Main Article: Bluebell Interchange
The last of the junctions to be substantially rebuilt, the Bluebell interchange was upgraded while keeping the M2 and the A229 running at the same time. It is a double roundabout.
Gillingham Interchange
Main Article: Gillingham Interchange
This junction is the point where the M2 becomes D2M. It is junction 4 with the A278 for Gillingham and is a standard roundabout.
The Ridgeway
Main Article: The Ridgeway
A fairly low-standard junction, its overbridge can be seen for miles around. This junction is used to get onto the A249 Sheppey Way. Also used for the M20. As of the early 2020s, it is currently being upgraded.
Perry Court Interchange
Main Article: Perry Court Interchange
The penultimate junction of the M2 is to the lowest standard on the whole motorway. It is a S2 parclo interchange for the A251.
Brenley Corner
Main Article: Brenley Corner Interchange
Brenley Corner is the last junction of the M2. It pre-dates the M2 as it was the main junction for Whitstable and Herne Bay. A2 traffic has to turn off here and the main line of the road becomes the A299.
Services
Medway Services
Main Article: Medway services
These services are roughly half way along the motorway. They are a traditional overbridge-style MSA.
Traffic Data
From http://www.dft.gov.uk/traffic-counts/
Link | 2002 AADF | 2006 AADF | 2010 AADF | 2014 AADF |
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J1-2 | 61954 | 81678 | 82284 | 93503 |
J2-3 | 62704 | 81164 | 80011 | 93727 |
J3-4 | 54523 | 70651 | 67410 | 76111 |
J4-5 | 51645 | 62129 | 75823 | 64247 |
J5-6 | 49012 | 57804 | 58199 | 58987 |
J6-7 | 47558 | 55063 | 52672 | 55424 |
J7 | 27439 | 36204 | 33160 | 32659 |
Links
Roads.org.uk
Motorway Archive
Motorway Services Online
Roads UK
You Tube
This page was a candidate for Article of the Month August 2009 | ||