GRAHAM has completed National Highways' M2 Junction 5 improvements scheme, which is now open.
The centrepiece of the upgrade to one of the UK’s busiest ‘and previously most dangerous’ junctions, at the intersection of the M2 and A249 in Kent, is the new Stockbury flyover.
Built using 1,500 Reinforced Earth RECO panels, it features a design that GRAHAM said blends with the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by incorporating locally sourced flint and cobble.
The two bridges supporting the flyover were constructed using reinforced concrete beams, each weighing up to 56 tonnes, which were installed using a 450-tonne mobile crane during August and October 2023.
Two new dedicated slip roads now provide direct access from the A249 to the M2, bypassing the Stockbury roundabout entirely.
A larger, redesigned gyratory system for the roundabout has also been created, with the removal of existing traffic lights, alongside the creation of a new link road connecting Maidstone Road and Oad Street.
GRAHAM contracts director Dave Brown, said: ‘It is with great pride that we announce the successful completion of the M2 Junction 5 Improvements Scheme, which is a testament to the hard work, collaboration, and commitment of the entire team.
‘We are proud to deliver a project that not only improves safety and connectivity for motorists, but leaves a lasting positive impact on the community.’
Highways awaits final cost figures, but National Highways' webpage for the scheme gives its cost in a range between £50m and £100m.
National Highways project manager Jilwan Rahimi said: ‘We are incredibly proud to have completed a project of this scale and be leaving behind a positive legacy for the local community.’
The project began in June 2021, having been commissioned under the second Road Investment Strategy.
A video has been published, showcasing the four-year construction operation and the challenges faced while working in close proximity to live traffic.
