A20 Roundhill Tunnels expansion joint replacement work scheduled from 13 November 2011

The Highways Agency have announced the details of the replacement programme for the failed expansion joints on the A20 Roundhill Viaduct, including around 6 weeks of overnight tunnel closures and diversions through Folkestone.

The joint replacement will be carried out under a series of overnight closures on one carriageway at a time. Works will take place between 8pm and 6am each night.

Works are planned to start on Sunday 13 November 2011, and are due for completion at or before the end of January 2012. Work will take place seven days a week to ensure that it is completed as quickly as possible. The works are weather dependent-if bad weather is experienced this may result in delays to the programme. If this situation arises, we will consult with key stakeholders further, particularly regarding the lead up to the Christmas period.

Whilst the closures are in place, the diversion routes will be as follows:

Coastbound Closures: Traffic will exit at junction 13 of the M20, being diverted via the A259 and the A260 to rejoin the A20 at Alkham Valley.

Londonbound Closures: Traffic will follow the same diversion route in reverse.

The Highways Agency say:

"We have been working closely with the manufacturer of the specialist joints in Munich to enable the works to be carried out as quickly as possible. The production of the joints, which weigh 4.9 tonnes each and are 10.7 metres long, 1.15 metres wide and 1 metre high, is now nearing completion, with works planned to start this month.

"The current lane availability of two lanes going coastbound and one going Londonbound made best use of the plates that we had available at the time that the joints failed. However, additional plates have been ordered and these have been manufactured over the past weeks. The plates are now nearing completion and will be installed on the Londonbound carriageway as part of the works. This will allow us to open up two lanes and return the carriageway to full capacity during the daytime."

The sequence of works is planned as follows:

• Remove the failed coastbound joint, carry out preparation works
• Install the additional plates Londonbound to provide two lanes
• Remove the failed Londonbound joint
• Replace the coastbound joint and fully re-open the carriageway
• Replace the Londonbound joint and fully re-open the carriageway

The Highways Agency website will be updated with progress of the works and you can sign up for email alerts when new information is added at http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/32113.aspx

For further information please contact the Highway Agency Customer Care Line on 0845 6000414, or write to area4@bbmmjv.com or Highways Agency, c/o Balfour Beatty Mott MacDonald, 10 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, Kent ME19 4AR.