Highways England plans £142 million investment to improve roads in the South East

Motorways and major A roads across the South East including the M25, M27, M3, M4, A27 and A2 will all benefit from these planned improvements, with road resurfacing, bridge joint replacements, the creation of cycle lanes, improved signage and landscaping all set to take place.

In total, Highways England will invest £142 million in a number of schemes across the home counties, South Coast and the M25.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said:

This Government is committed to improving our transport infrastructure, and this multi-million-pound investment is a real reflection of that commitment.

The funding will ensure motorists and road-users right across the South East will enjoy safer and better journeys, whilst boosting local economies as we continue to build back better from the pandemic.

Highways England’s regional director for the South East Nicola Bell said:

Keeping our roads in good condition is essential for the safety and journey reliability of drivers. This multi-million-pound investment will help keep journeys on our motorways and A roads flowing and reduce the risk of unplanned, disruptive maintenance.

Over the next 12 months, we’ll be working hard to ensure drivers across the South East enjoy a smoother experience while travelling on our roads.

Highways England will deliver a number of small-scale enhancements and maintenance schemes, which include:

Surrey, Hampshire and the M25
A30 Crooked Billet junction improvement, Staines-upon-Thames – this scheme has already started to improve journey times and reliability with localised widening and improved traffic signals. Work will soon begin to close an existing pedestrian subway and replacing it with an improved above ground shared cycle and footway.
M25 junction 23 improvement at South Mimms in Hertfordshire – work to widen slip roads and improvement of the signal timings to improve traffic flows through the junction.
A13 North Stifford Junction in Thurrock – work to widen the A13 slip roads at the junction and install new traffic signals is due to start this autumn.
Major resurfacing on the M27 between junctions 11 and 12.
A coastal protection scheme on the A27 at Broadmarsh.
A trial using recycled material to resurface part of the M3 in Hampshire, aimed at reducing carbon emissions and waste.
Kent and Sussex
Eastcliff Viaduct – ongoing replacement of 12 bridge bearings at the Port of Dover.
Resurfacing of the M23 between junctions 8-10 and the M20 between junctions 4-5.
A2 (near Canterbury) – resurfacing and concrete repairs to address the frequency of potholing.
A26 near Newhaven in East Sussex and on the A20 in Dover: renewal of lighting.
Most of these improvement schemes will have minimal impact on drivers. However, some might require lane closures, overnight closures or road closures, although disruption will be kept to a minimum.