A2 Pepperhill to Cobham

Skanska is currently undertaking a design and build contract for the Highways Agency to widen a stretch of the A2 from three to four lanes in each direction between Pepperhill and Cobham in Kent. Construction began at the start of 2007.The scheme proposals will significantly improve the safety record of the current road layout and enhance the general environmental situation along the route.

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Developing the project

Under the Highways Agency’s new-style “Early Contractor Involvement” (ECI) initiative, Skanska’s expertise were used at a very early stage of the scheme to carry out detailed design and development work.
This included reducing costs through extensive value engineering and providing detailed information on all areas of the scheme, including environmental aspects, to help it obtain the required statutory approvals.

Constructing the project

Widening of the A2 dual carriageway from three to four lanes in each direction. 4 km is on-line construction requiring phased traffic management to maintain the flow of 110,000 vehicle per day. 4 km is off-line. The works includes site clearance (which includes demolition) archaeological works, fencing, earthworks, drainage ponds, carriageway construction, the construction of four road bridges and two footbridges, utility service diversions and extensive landscaping.

During the earthworks season phase an estimated 600,000 cubic metres will was be moved.

Client

Highways Agency

Environment

At the planning stage, Skanska provided detailed information on all areas of the scheme, including environmental aspects, to help it obtain the required statutory approvals, before construction was started.

Benefits for the community

The Project is designed to alleviate congestion, improve safety and contribute to an integrated and sustainable transport strategy for the Kent Thames-side area. This will be achieved through improving service levels and journey time reliability and by providing better access to local regeneration areas. Excess material from the new road has been used to landscape four kilometres of the existing road creating a linear park between the new road and existing housing. A cycle path is also provided.