New J10A milestone

Two new slip roads at a newly created junction on the M20 motorway in Kent will be opened overnight tonight (Thursday 19 December) and are available for traffic in time for Christmas.

Junction 10A, near Ashford in Kent, will reduce congestion at the existing junction 10 and unlock new jobs and investment in Ashford and surrounding communities.

Two new London-facing slip roads are joining the two other slip roads that opened at the new junction in October alongside the new A2070 link road, meaning that drivers can now use the junction to make manoeuvres in all directions. The project also includes better access to and from Ashford Retail Park, improved footways and cycleways and new wildlife habitats – work which continues into the new year.

Thomas Selby, M20 project manager at Highways England, said:

“Opening these two extra slip roads is a major milestone towards fully completing this major project, and I am delighted that we are able to have them available for traffic in time for Christmas, bringing benefits to people living and working in the area.

“Today’s milestone is the result of 23 months of hard work by the project team, and as well as recognising this achievement I’d also like to thank drivers and local people for their patience while we built their new junction. I hope people enjoy using it and I’d like to remind everyone to drive with extra care while they get used to the new road layout.”

This new junction, which will improve journeys and open the door for further inward economic investment for communities in the area is part of international route used by large volumes of heavy goods and holiday traffic.

Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said:

“We have long campaigned for the delivery of extra road transport capacity to cater for the town’s future needs. Junction 10a is another piece of the borough’s integrated transport infrastructure jigsaw to fall into place.

“I believe the completion of this long-awaited junction will be a catalyst for economic and commercial development in Ashford, creating job opportunities and improving the infrastructure of the town. It is satisfying to see another of Ashford’s Big 8 projects being delivered.”

Earlier this year work was fast-tracked so that key sections of this new junction would be open for traffic by 31 October.

As a result, the east facing slip roads at the new junction, as well as the new A2070 link road, were open at the end of October. In the new year the project team will be working towards full completion with landscaping and minor construction work and this may require very localised traffic management.

To keep up to date on developments at the new junction, visit: https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/m20-junction-10a/