Preparatory Works Begin on £250m A229 Upgrade in Kent

Survey work is commencing in Kent for the A229 upgrade

Early-stage work has now started in Kent on a major upgrade of the A229, a vital link between the M2 and M20 motorways.

The road connects junction 6 of the M20 near Maidstone with junction 3 of the M2 at Blue Bell Hill, and is notorious for long delays during peak hours.

The £250 million scheme aims to ease congestion and improve journey times for motorists. With traffic volumes often creating queues of slow-moving vehicles, the A229 has been identified as a critical corridor—particularly with the forthcoming Lower Thames Crossing set to increase demand across the region.

Rising construction costs have pushed the price tag up from the original £202 million estimate, with higher material costs cited as a major factor behind the increase.

Kent County Council (KCC) is leading the project, with AECOM specialists carrying out survey work over the next three months. These investigations will assess ground conditions, drainage, and the position of underground utilities ahead of the full construction programme.

KCC has submitted a bid for the scheme to be included in the Department for Transport’s Major Road Network funding programme, which supports large-scale regional transport projects that cannot be financed through standard budgets.

Planned improvements include upgrades to the Lord Lees Roundabout and Maidstone-bound slip roads at Blue Bell Hill. A new dedicated left-turn lane will be constructed from the M2 London-bound carriageway to the Taddington Roundabout, while the A229 southbound link will be expanded to three lanes between the Lord Lees and Cobtree roundabouts.

The project will be delivered in stages, with main construction expected to begin in 2028. Completion is targeted for 2031—timed to coincide with the opening of the Lower Thames Crossing.