A consultation has been launched on plans for a £125 million upgrade project along the A1 in north Kent.

The scheme involves boosting capacity at the Bean and Ebbsfleet junctions by creating enlarged junction roundabouts with new lanes and enhanced slip roads.

At Bean, a new bridge will be built over the A2 dual carriageway providing two extra lanes between the two junction roundabouts, which will also be improved, and an additional slip road for eastbound traffic joining the A2. The Ebbsfleet junction improvements include enlarging the existing roundabouts, widening the road between the roundabouts to a dual carriageway and widening existing slip roads.

Previous consultation periods were help between January and March last year, with preferred options announced in August. This latest consultation will form the basis of the project's formal planning application.

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Highways England Senior Project Manager, Brian Gash, said: "Bean and Ebbsfleet junctions serve Bluewater, Ebbsfleet International station and soon the new Garden City and these vital upgrades will help to make sure that the A2 stays fit for the future opportunities coming to Kent.

"Demand is expected to grow by up to 200 per cent by 2027, so it is vital that the final proposals we end up taking forward for planning permission are the best we can possibly make them. People's input into the consultation will help us make sure that they are. There are important decisions still to be made about each junction, so I'd encourage anyone with an interest – drivers, residents, business owners and visitors - to get involved."

The announcement has been welcomed by the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, who have contributed £45m funding towards the project.

The developer is currently delivering the Ebbsfleet Garden City project between the boundaries of Gravesham and Dartford boroughs, delivering up to 15,000 new homes over the next 15 years.

Chief Executive Ian Piper said: "With up to 15,000 new homes in Ebbsfleet Garden City, it is important that local infrastructure is improved to accommodate this growth.

"With our support for the proposed scheme for the two A2 junctions and a commitment from us to improve public transport in the area through a new and upgraded Fastrack service, we are investing to ensure traffic continues to flow."

(LM)