Vital safety works to start on the A20

As many residents have seen from the Start of Works Notice (SOWN) issued a couple of weeks ago, KCC/ Kent Highways will be carrying out significant works to enhance safety on the A20 near Farningham, starting on 4 November.

 The central feature of the works is to install a system of average speed cameras in the area of the 40mph zone to the east (West Kingsdown facing side) of Kings roundabout. This follows extensive work and analysis of the factors behind the serious and fatal accidents that have taken place on this stretch of road. Driver error (often not on the part of those who were the victims of the crashes) was a common feature, but speed made the effects much more severe. This is the logic of the average speed camera installation, and is in accordance with the thinking behind KCC’s Vision Zero Strategy – that you can never fully eliminate driver error, but you can take measures to reduce and mitigate its effects.

In addition, KCC will be installing 40 mph roundels on that stretch of road, countdown markers on the approach to the 40mph gateway, just north of Charton Manor, and will enhance the current high friction surfacing at the A20 main Road junction with the A225 Eynsford Road with a higher skid resistant asphalt surface. The countdown markers, which originated in discussions that I held between Kent Highways and the Parish Council, are an unusual step, and required some discussion with the Department for Transport.

I have been asked why these measures have not been applied on the Swanley-facing side of the roundabout where there is a lot of concern about speeds as vehicles head towards Swanley. However, this would not be possible under the criteria for cameras of the Kent & Medway Safety Camera Partnership (which themselves reflect national guidance). We are, however, looking to signage options that will help to address this.

In recognition of continuing concern over illegal right turns at the Eynsford Road/ A20 junction, Kent Highways will also be enhancing the signs and lines at the Eynsford Road junction to emphasise the existing No Right Turn restriction in place. It is important that these measures are demonstrated to have been tried before any other measures to enforce the restriction are attempted; but the situation will be monitored and if justified those further measures could be introduced.

The work will take around two weeks to complete, commencing on 4 November 2024 (next Monday), with the signing and vegetation cut back taking place between the hours of 09:30 and 15:00.

Installation of the average speed cameras will take around four days to complete, commencing on 5 November 2024, between the hours of 20:00 and 05:00.

Lining and high friction surfacing replacement will take place between the hours of 20:00 and 05:00 during the week commencing 11 November.

All this is subject to potential change depending on weather conditions, and the works will be carried out under multi-way traffic lights.

This should represent an important step forward in terms of road safety in an area with a long and tragic record of accidents; and many of the other issues in the area will remain under Kent Highways’ attention, and mine as the local Member. The work does not stop here.