The National Highways (NH) Project Manager for M2 Junction 5 Improvement works gave a verbal update on the progress of the works.

The Chair invited Members to ask questions and points raised included:

·         Congratulated NH on how they had progressed the works and considered that that communication with the local community was much improved;

·         raised safety concerns in respect of the Oad Street, Borden T-junction once motorists had left the A249 (Maidstone Road).  Drivers were confronted with traffic travelling from Tunstall on the right-hand side over the brow of a very steep hill with very short sightlines.  Could traffic from the A249 (Maidstone Road) travelling up the new hill be given right of way?;

·         traffic management was poor in respect of the flow from Maidstone.  The left hand-lane should also be going north to Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey which would help to ease traffic congestion;

·         travelling from the M2 (Medway direction) the bend turning north on the eastbound slip road was too sharp for HGVs and needed to be altered;

·         why was work taking so long? the contractors should be working 24/7 to reduced costs of the works;

·         Kent County Council (KCC) Planning Committee had met the contractors on-site which had been very beneficial, and another visit was planned;

·         would the A249 be closed during the Kent County Show weekend, 7 to 9 July 2023?; and

·         concerned that drivers travelling from Maidstone were not getting in lane and cutting-in at the last minute.  Could lane delineation be put in at this point?

In response to points raised the NH Project Manager said in respect of the Oad Street, T-junction it would have been assessed and passed a safety audit.  He agreed to speak to the Safety Auditor and KCC about the Member’s concerns.  The northbound traffic lane set-up approaching the roundabout was the only safe option and traffic modelling indicated that it was currently an even-split in terms of traffic and he agreed to forward the relevant reasoning for the traffic flows to the relevant Member.  The NH Project Manager said that with regard to concerns about the sharp bend on the eastbound slip road a Swept Path Analysis, safety audit and risk assessment had been carried out and it was shown to be a safe road and complied with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) standards.  He said that despite challenges outside of their control they maintained the end date of the works on a very sensitive junction which was a huge achievement.  He said that it was not always efficient or feasible to work 24/7 and it was commercially beneficial to the contractor to work as efficiently and cost effectively as they could.

The NH Project Manager confirmed that the A249 would not be closed during the Kent County Show weekend in July 2023.  He appreciated the frustration in respect of some driver’s not staying in-line however it was not safe to put in a hard barrier and it would be difficult to enforce.

The Chair thanked the NH Project Manager for the update.

Resolved:

(1)      That the verbal update from NH be noted.