Revamp for M25/A2 junction in Kent now complete

A 15-month upgrade to one of the M25’s busiest junctions has now been completed, Highways England announced.

Junction 2 on the M25, which is also known as The Darenth interchange and links the M25 with the A2 in Kent has been upgraded in a £6m project to improve traffic flow and reduce collisions.

The £6m upgrade has created an extra lane on the roundabout and an extended slip road to increase capacity, as well as improvements to the traffic lights to help ease the flow of traffic using the roundabout. Road signs and lane markings on the roundabout have also been improved, and traffic enforcement cameras have been installed to improve compliance with the traffic lights.

Highways England route sponsor Tommy Whittingham said:

“This upgrade to the Darenth Interchange is the most significant improvement work that has been carried out at this junction for over 10 years. The junction is about two miles away from the Dartford Crossing, and congestion here can cause a knock-on effect for drivers heading to the tunnels or away from the QEII bridge. This vital upgrade will also help to ease congestion for drivers using the local roads in the area too.”

“Most of the work while we were upgrading took place overnight, and I would like to thank drivers for their patience over the last 15 months while we completed this important work.”

The Darenth interchange often suffers from congestion at peak times and queues on the junction stretching back onto the main carriageways of the A2 and the M25, causing frequent delays and increasing the risk of collisions.

The junction also experiences issues with drivers jumping red lights and poor lane discipline which these upgrades will help to address.

The improvements at junction 2 include:

  • Upgraded traffic signal timings to improve junction efficiency
  • An additional lane on the roundabout to increase capacity on the junction
  • Extending the A2 London bound exit slip onto the M25 link road
  • Improved road signs and markings on the roundabout
  • Red traffic light enforcement camera to improve safety on the M25 anti-clockwise off slip

The upgrade of M25 junction 2 is part of a £10m package of measures to help ease congestion at major traffic bottlenecks around the M25 at Dartford, ahead of the completion of the Lower Thames Crossing in 2027.

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Notes to Editors

About Connect Plus and Connect Plus Services

  • Over 10 years ago, Highways England awarded Connect Plus the contract to operate and manage the M25 and its key arterial link roads.
  • Connect Plus is a consortium that includes Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd, Balfour Beatty and Egis Road Operation UK - a unique partnership with a collective strength in highways maintenance and management.
  • Connect Plus Services (CPS), is Connect Plus’ specialist and strategic supply chain partner responsible for operations and maintenance, bringing together the collective strength and expertise of its parent companies, Balfour Beatty, Atkins and Egis Road Operation UK.
  • With a workforce of around 600 people, based at seven locations around the network, CPS carries out routine maintenance, and whole-life management of thousands of M25 assets. CPS manages the operation of the network 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including a severe weather season maintenance programme.
  • Over the past 10 years, collectively we’ve delivered over £1.4bn worth of road improvements and junction enhancements, and we’re continually exploring new and innovative ways to deliver safer, more reliable journeys for our customers. Together, we’re passionate about delivering the long-term needs of the M25 and improving the driving experience for all our customers.
  • For further information please visit https://www.connectplusm25.co.uk/ or follow us at https://twitter.com/cpservices_m25