M2 flyover begins to take shape with second beam lift
18 giant precast concrete beams that will form the basis of the northern section of the new Stockbury flyover will be installed next week
National Highways upgrade of junction 5 on the M2 continues to take shape with a second bridge beam lift set to take place next week.
A specialist 500 tonne crane will be welcomed onto site in the coming days, along with 18 giant precast concrete beams that will form the basis of the northern section of the new Stockbury flyover.
The delicate and challenging operation will get underway on Wednesday 25 October and is expected to take 48 hours to complete.
The work will be undertaken without the need for road closures, keeping disruption to a minimum and traffic flowing on the A249 and the M2.
Speaking ahead of the beam lift, Dan Rollinson – National Highways M2 junction 5 project lead – said: “Our second beam lift is another significant milestone for this transformative scheme. The M2 is a key strategic route through Kent providing alternative links to the cross-channel ports and the rest of the country. Our improvements to this important junction will help tackle congestion that drivers, businesses, and the local community have encountered for a long-time.”
During the operation a team of specialists will lift two edge beams weighing 56-tonnes each and 16 middle beams each weighing 20 tonnes. The beams will be lifted onto the supports, known as abutments, that have already been built on the north of the roundabout, forming the base for this section of the new flyover.
Once complete, National Highways M2 junction 5 improvements, which includes a flyover, will allow traffic to flow without restrictions over the Stockbury roundabout, reducing delays and improving safety.
Separate to the beam lift, as a part of the work to build a new London-bound exit slip at junction 5, National Highways will need to move traffic off the existing slip to a new temporary link road while the new slip is being built. To do this safely, the M2 junction 5 London-bound exit slip will be closed from 8pm Friday 27 October to 5am Monday 30 October
A diversion will be in place via the M2, A229, M20 and A249.
To find out more about our work to improve junction 5 on the M2, visit our webpage.
Notes to Editors
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
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