M20 bridge work to start

Work starts this weekend to refurbish a motorway bridge near junction 8 of the M20 near Maidstone in Kent. The Chrismill bridge, which carries the motorway over the Maidstone East railway line, will be fully resurfaced and rewaterproofed, drainage will be improved and important components will be replaced.

The work will require various temporary restrictions on the Londonbound M20, including a weekend carriageway closure. Because the bridge is so near the junction, the Londonbound entry slip road at junction 8 will be closed throughout the work.

Work will start on Sunday 05 June for around two weeks, and is being carried out 24 hours a day to ensure it is completed as quickly as possible. The Londonbound entry slip road at junction 8 will close to traffic at 8pm this Sunday (05 June) and will remain closed until 8pm on Friday 17 June. A fully signed diversion route will direct traffic on the on the A20 and the A249 to junction 7.

Work on the main carriageway will proceed in three phases.

From 8pm this Sunday (5 June) until 8pm on Friday 10 June, lanes 2 and 3 on the Londonbound M20 over the bridge will be closed. Two lanes will remain open to traffic - with drivers directed to use lane 1 and the hard shoulder - and a 50mph temporary speed limit will be in place.

Then, from 8pm on Friday 10 June to 5am on Monday 13 June, the Londonbound carriageway between junctions 8 and 7 will be closed for the weekend. A fully signed diversion route will be in place throughout the closure, with traffic diverted off the M20 at junction 8 and on the A20 and the A249 to junction 7.

Finally, from Monday 13 June, lane 1 and the hard shoulder of the Londonbound M20 will be closed to traffic, with lanes 2 and 3 remaining open. The 50mph temporary speed limit will continue to be in effect during this time.

Work is expected to be complete, with all restrictions removed, by 8pm on Friday 17 June.