A21 safety package
National Highways has committed to deliver a suite of safety improvements along the A21 route corridor from Sevenoaks to Hastings. We have brought forward this package of works in recognition of the safety improvements they will make to the travelling public and local communities.
Latest updates
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13 November 2024
Marley Lane to Baldslow closures
We are continuing with our Safety Package works including sign replacement, maintenance, litter picking and removal of Ash dieback trees.
A21 northbound carriageway from Vauxhall roundabout to Morleys Road roundabout
- Monday 11 November to Friday 29 November (Monday to Friday only 8pm to 6am)
A21 southbound carriageway from Morleys Road roundabout to Vauxhall roundabout
- Monday 2 December to Friday 20 December (Monday to Friday only 8pm to 6am)
Diversions
For A25 Westerham junction to Morleys Road roundabout in both directions:
- Traffic will be diverted via the A25 Westerham Road, A224, A225 to join A21 at Morleys Road roundabout.
For Morleys Road roundabout to Vauxhall roundabout in both directions:
- Traffic will be diverted via B245, A227, East Street, A26 to rejoin the A21.
A21 Tonbridge Bypass
We’ll soon be carrying out resurfacing and safety barrier renewal works on the A21 Tonbridge Bypass northbound carriageway.
For full details, please visit our South East maintenance works page.
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12 July 2024
Northbridge Street roundabout to St John’s Cross roundabout closures
Updated closure information
Monday 19 August to Friday 27 September
The emergency utilities work on the diversion route have now been completed, our overnight closures will start again from Monday 19 August to Friday 31 August 2024. There will be no overnight closures on Friday 23 and Monday 26 August.
The A21 will be closed overnight in both directions from Northbridge Street roundabout to John’s Cross roundabout between 8pm to 6am Monday to Friday only.
Closures can change at short notice. Make sure you check the latest information on our daily closures page.
Diversion
During the closures a diversion will be in place via the A268 and A28.
Further A21 closures in both directions
Johns Cross roundabout to the B2089
- Wednesday 4 September for two nights (8pm to 6am)
B2089 to Marley’s Lane
- Friday 6 September for one night (8pm to 6am)
- Monday 9 September for two nights (8pm to 6am)
Marley’s Lane to Sedlescombe Golf Course
- Thursday 12 September for one night
- (please note from Monday 9 September there will be traffic lights out between 8pm to 6am)
Sedlescombe Golf Course to Baldslow
- Friday 13 September for one night (8pm to 6am)
- Monday 16 September for five nights (8pm to 6am)
- Monday 23 September for five nights (8pm to 6am)
Diversions
- Southbound traffic will be diverted via, A2100, A2690, Mount View Street, Westwood Road, Hastings Road, A259 to rejoin the A21.
- Northbound traffic will be diverted via A28, A268 to join the A21 at Flimwell.
Further works on the A21 include sign replacement, maintenance, litter picking and removal of Ash dieback trees.
Closure information:
A21 northbound carriageway from Morley’s roundabout to Westerham A25.
- Monday 30 September to Friday 18 October
(Monday to Friday only 8pm to 6am)
A21 southbound carriageway from A25 Westerham to Morley’s roundabout.
- Monday 21 October to Friday 8 November
(Monday to Friday only 10pm to 6am)
Please note there will no overnight closures on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 October
A21 northbound carriageway from Vauxhall roundabout to Morley’s roundabout
Monday 11 November to Friday 29 November
(Monday to Friday only 8pm to 6am)A21 southbound carriageway from Morley’s roundabout to Vauxhall roundabout.
- Monday 2 December to Friday 20 December
(Monday to Friday only 8pm to 6am)
Diversions:
For A25 Westerham junction to Morley’s roundabout in both directions:
Traffic will be diverted via the A25 Westerham Road, A224, A225 to join A21 at Morley’s roundabout.
For Morley’s roundabout to Vauxhall roundabout in both directions:
Traffic will be diverted via B245, A227, East Street, A26 to rejoin the A21.
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08 February 2024
Silver Hill to John’s Cross safety improvements begin
We’ll soon be starting improvements between Silver Hill (Hurst Green) and John’s Cross.
This will include new signs and lighting, and improved road markings.
We'll be working in phases starting on the evening of Monday 5 February. This section will take up to three months. Businesses remain open as usual.
We’ll be working weeknights between the hours of 8pm and 6am only, when there are fewer vehicles on the road.
There may be temporary traffic lights on the road outside of these hours, but the road will remain open while the lights are in place.
This work will require some road/lane closures. Please remember that closure details can change at short notice. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our daily closures page.
Follow this link to see details of diversions routes we'll be using.
Access for businesses and residents
An escort will be provided for businesses and residents within the closure, please approach the closure point. This is for access only.
This work is subject to favourable weather conditions, for example heavy rain may affect the progress. Keep an eye on our webpage for any updates.
Speed limit changes
As you drive along the A21, the current speed limit changes to match the conditions of the road, whether it is dual carriageway or a more rural location, but too many changes and inconsistency in speed limits can be a risk to drivers.
For that reason, we’re changing the speed limits on some stretches of the A21 to make them more consistent to help smooth traffic flow.
If you have any additional queries about our work to improve safety on the A21, you can email the project team at A21SafetyPackagescheme@nationalhighways.co.uk or call our 24/7 Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 who will direct your query to the team.
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03 August 2023
Progress update – August 2022
The team have been busy over the last year working on our plans to improve safety on the A21. A lot of this work has focused on reviewing information and data to help shape our plans and inform our designs. Making sure we can deliver improvements where they are needed most.
Route wide – signage & road markings
We’ve completed a review of all the signage and road markings along the A21 and have identified where improvements are needed. Our proposals are in the final stages of the design and will be ready for construction in early 2023. These changes will bring much-needed improvements to driver information on the road.
Route wide – layby review
There have been several incidents related to laybys on the A21. We’ve reviewed this data, as well as looking at the designs of the laybys themselves to identify any possible improvements. These proposals are being reviewed alongside the other planned improvements.
Route wide – walking, cycling and horse-riding review
We’ve carried out a review of the existing walking, cycling and horse-riding routes on the A21 and found some opportunities for improvements. We’re now looking at these opportunities in more detail, with design work planned to start in 2023
Targeted improvements
We’ve completed our improvement plans at some of the higher priority incident hotspots and will be starting work on these in early 2023. This will be a staged approach, which will see changes introduced that are monitored and reviewed. We can then adjust or put in additional improvements as required.
Details can be found in the “Lamberhurst to Hurst Green” and “Hurst Green to Hastings” sections.
Surveys
You may notice our teams carrying out surveys on the A21. These surveys help us gather as much information as possible about what is above and below the surface.
As well as surveys looking at drainage, surface water and ground conditions, you may have noticed people walking around using specialist equipment, known as ground penetrating radar, to look below the surface to confirm the location of pipes and cables.
We’ve also carried out video surveys at a several locations. These are to help us understand how drivers and pedestrians use certain junctions and identify any changes we can make to improve safety and reduce risk.
Hurst Green village pedestrian survey
We’re currently looking in detail at routes for pedestrians in Hurst Green. A survey was recently sent to all residents to find out more about how people move around the village when not using a vehicle, and what improvements they would like to see made.
We’ll be reviewing all the feedback we get in September and will report back to the community with any proposals for improvements.
If you’d like to know more, or live in Hurst Green and didn’t receive a survey, please email us: A21SafetyPackagescheme@nationalhighways.co.uk and one of the team will be in contact.
Project information
Overview
The A21 has, for many years, suffered from a significant level of collisions.
We are bringing forward a series of schemes to improve safety along this corridor, which will include, amongst others:
- junction improvements
- improvements to road visibility
- changes to speed limits
- improved signing, markings and road studs
This work is to improve safety and won't change capacity along the A21. We'll be looking at that as part of our 'route strategy' work which is due to start shortly.
Benefits
Benefits will include:
- improving safety along the A21 - reducing the number, severity and frequency of incidents for the travelling public and local communities
- improving the customer experience of the A21
- reducing journey time delays as a result of a reduction in incidents
Documents
Project background
Details of specific sites and interventions that are under consideration in our preliminary design stage on the A21 can be found in these documents:
Section 1 – M25 to Tonbridge
Section 2 – Tonbridge to Lamberhurst
Section 3 - Lamberhurst to Hurst Green
Section 4 – Hurst Green to Hastings
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.X
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