A21 safety package

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

A21/A25 junction improvements

Our review of the A21 / A25 junction highlighted several incidents at this junction, so we’ve improved the signage and road markings at this junction during 2021 and continue to monitor its impact on safety of the junction.

We’ve recently conducted video surveys to find out how pedestrians move around the junction to see if we can make any improvements. This data is currently being reviewed.

Sevenoaks Bypass laybys

There has been a cluster of incidents relating to vehicles entering and exiting laybys on the A21 Sevenoaks Bypass. We are looking at the layout of the laybys to see if these can be changed to reduce the risk of collisions.

Improvement work has already started at the southbound Riverhill layby in 2022, and we’ll be checking the impact of these changes before doing any more work here. A review of the other laybys in the area is ongoing and any improvement work identified will start in 2023.

Road markings and signage

We’ll be improving road markings and signage along the A21 to ensure it is consistent along the route. This includes:

• improving the information, visibility and positioning of signs
• removing signs that are no longer needed and replacing any that are old or damaged
• reducing the amount of sign clutter at the roadside
• improving the visibility, condition and type of road markings

These improvements are due to start in 2022.

Drainage surveys

We’re carrying out surveys to learn more about the drainage on the A21 between the M25 and Tonbridge. It’s important that we keep our drainage systems working as they should. They’re in place to remove water from the road, prevent flooding and help keep the road free of standing water.

Forstal Farm Roundabout

There has been a several incidents at the Forstal Farm roundabout, where the road goes from dual carriageway to a single lane. As we are unable to widen the road at this point, we’ll be improving the road markings and signage to reduce the risk of accidents. This work is currently being designed and we’re planning to complete the improvements in 2023.

Targeted improvements

We’ve been reviewing safety data at Kippings Cross Roundabout, Blue Boys Roundabout and Cuckoo Lane. This review was put on hold while we focused on other locations. We’re planning to continue with our reviews at these locations in late 2022.

Road markings and signage

We’ll be improving road markings and signage along the A21 to ensure it is consistent along the route. This includes:

• improving the information, visibility and positioning of signs
• removing signs that are no longer needed and replacing any that are old or damaged
• reducing the amount of sign clutter at the roadside
• improving the visibility, condition and type of road markings

These improvements are due to start in 2022.

Scotney Castle to north of Flimwell

We’ve reviewed the type of incidents occurring along this stretch of road and identified collision hotspots at:

• Kilndown Road junction
• Cedar Gables junction
• Rosemary Lane junction
• T&J Motel junction

Following feedback from the local community, we’re proposing a light-touch solution at these locations. We’ll be putting up new signs to alert drivers earlier as they approach the junction, and changes to the road markings to reduce overtaking and lane changes. We’re also looking at reducing the speed limit through this section of road.

We’re planning to make these changes in 2022 and monitor the impacts for a year.

We’ve also carried out surveys at Kilndown and Rosemary Lane to better understand vehicle movements in this area and the current drainage issues. This data is currently under review and will be used to develop future plans at these locations.

Ashdene Garages

There have been several incidents linked to vehicles entering and exiting the service stations at Ashdene. We’ve carried out video surveys of the two service stations to understand the type of journeys people make, the pedestrian and vehicle movements at the service stations and risks associated with them.

We’re using this data to develop changes to reduce incidents at this location. Once we have more details about these changes, we’ll share them with the local community to gather feedback. We’re planning to start work on any improvements in 2023.

A21 / A229 Coopers Corner junction

Being led by the safety data, we put investigation work at this junction on hold in 2021, while we prioritised work at other locations.

In summer 2022, we restarted our review at this junction. A video survey has been carried out to help us understand more about the vehicle movements and risks linked with them. This data is currently being review and will be used to develop future interventions at this location, if required.

A21 Hurst Green village

We’re currently looking at how we can improve safety and accessibility of the pedestrian routes through the village of Hurst Green. We’ve launched a survey with the Hurst Green Parish Council to gather their feedback on existing pedestrian routes and how these could be improved.

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.

Road markings and signage

We’ll be improving road markings and signage along the A21 to ensure it is consistent along the route. This includes:

• improving the information, visibility and positioning of signs
• removing signs that are no longer needed and replacing any that are old or damaged
• reducing the amount of sign clutter at the roadside
• improving the visibility, condition and type of road markings

These improvements are due to start in 2022.

Targeted improvements

We’ve been reviewing data from Scotney Castle Roundabout and Lady Oak Lane. This review was put on hold while we focused on other locations. We’re planning to continue with our reviews at these locations in late 2022.

Updated October 2023

We’ve already completed some improvements on this stretch of the A21, which included:

• A21 / B2089 & B2090 junctions
• New signage on the A21 and B2090
• Changes to the road markings at the northern B2090 junction, which:
• Prohibit right turns from the northbound A21 carriageway
• Provide a dedicated left turn approach lane for vehicles travelling south on the A21

Next steps

The next phase of work in this section started in October 2023, and will include improvements to:

Road markings and signage

We’ll be improving road markings and signage along the A21 to ensure it is consistent along the route. This includes:

• improving the information, visibility and positioning of signs
• removing signs that are no longer needed and replacing any that are old or damaged
• reducing the amount of sign clutter at the roadside
• improving the visibility, condition and type of road markings

Speed Limit Changes

As you drive along the A21, the current speed limits change to match the conditions of the road, whether it is dual carriageway or a more rural location. Too many changes and inconsistency in speed limits can be a risk to drivers, and we’ll be making changes along the route for more consistency and to help smooth traffic flow.

Broadly, this means all village locations will become 40mph (apart from Hurst Green, due to the variable 20mph limit for the school) and all non-village locations will become 50mph.This will:

• Reduce the frequency of speed limit changes
• Improve the smooth transitions between speed limits
• Improve the consistency of the speed limits across the route

Junction improvements

Our reviews of these junctions are on hold as we prioritise work in other locations:

• Silver Hill
• Cripps Corner
• B2244 Tolgate Road
• Poppinghile Lane
• Blueman Lane

We’re prioritising pedestrian improvement work, and are currently in a design phase for changes at:

• B2244 tollgate road junction
• Kent Street
• Whatlington Village
• Hurst Green

We’ll shortly be starting works between Scotney Castle and Flimwell, which will be carried out in two phases. To minimise disruption, we’ll work on weeknights only when there are fewer vehicles on the road. During the day we will keep the road open as usual.

Phase 1 - Vegetation clearance

These works need to be completed before nesting season, so we don’t disturb birds and another animals. It’s part of our usual maintenance and will help to maintain driver visibility and safety.

Friday 24 February to Saturday 4 March – full overnight closures between Scotney Castle and Flimwell, from 9:30pm to 6am for 6 weeknights.

We’ll aim to complete the loudest works as early as possible to keep noise impact to a minimum but apologise in advance for any disturbance experienced.

Phase 2 – safety package improvements

As part of the suite of safety improvements on the A21, this section will see junction improvements, speed limit changes and general signage and road marking improvements. The works will bring much-needed improvements to driver information on the road and safety.

Monday 13 March to Friday 28 April (excluding Easter bank holidays) – full overnight closures between Scotney Castle and Flimwell, from 10pm to 6am for 33 weeknights.

Closure information

The closure and diversion route will remain the same for both phases of works. The diversion will be in place in both directions via the A268, A229 and A262 to the Forstal Farm roundabout. There will be temporary traffic lights in Goudhurst to help keep traffic moving.

Access For businesses and residents

For businesses and residents with direct access onto the A21, access will be maintained to your properties. Please approach the closure for an escort. This is for access only. Throughout the work the A268 through Flimwell will be open for traffic travelling east and west.

Please note that these works are subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Please accept our apologies in advance for any inconvenience this work may cause. If you have any questions about this work, you can contact National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 open 24/7, who will direct your query to the team, or email: info@nationalhighways.co.uk 

We’ll shortly be starting junction improvement works at Marley Lane and Moat Lane, which will be carried out in two phases. To minimise disruption, we’ll work on weeknights only when there are fewer vehicles on the road. During the day we will keep the road open as usual.

Phase 1 - Vegetation clearance
We’ll be cutting back vegetation in the verges on this stretch of the A21 to improve visibility to both the junctions and the new signs. Vegetation clearance will include grass cutting, hedge trimming and tree crown lifting.

Monday 20 February to Friday 24 February – Full overnight closures will be place between John’s Cross roundabout and Baldslow, from 10pm to 6am for 4 weeknights.
We’ll aim to complete the loudest works as early as possible to keep noise impact to a minimum but apologise in advance for any disturbance experienced.

Phase 2 – safety package improvements
As part of the suite of safety improvements on the A21, we’ll be making improvements to both Marley Lane and Moat Lane junctions, by overhauling the signage and road markings.

Wednesday 22 March - Saturday 15 April (excluding Easter bank holidays) – overnight closures between John’s Cross roundabout and Baldslow, from 10pm to 6am for 21 weeknights.

Closure information
For both phases, a diversion route will be in place in both directions via the A2100 through Battle. During phase 2 works, local access will be retained from Johns Cross roundabout to the works closure area at Marley Lane, and from Baldslow to the works closure area at Moat Lane.

For businesses and residents within the closure, please make your way to the closure point, where you’ll be able contact the site team for escort to a suitable point. This escort is for access only.

Please note that these works are subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Please accept our apologies in advance for any inconvenience this work may cause. If you have any questions about this work, you can contact National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 open 24/7, who will direct your query to the team, or email: info@nationalhighways.co.uk

Alongside the safety package project, we’re also continuing with our usual maintenance and repairs of the road. More information, along with other work we’re completing on our network, can be found on our South East maintenance schemes page.