Designs for new £70m M20 junction unveiled

Highways England is consulting on the design details of a proposed new junction on the M20 in Ashford, 18 months after the government announced its decision to fund the long-awaited project.

The new junction is proposed around 700 metres east of the existing junction 10. It will use two bridges and connect to the existing A20 and a new dual carriageway link road built to the A2070 near Sevington.

The estimated £70m cost of the project is being met by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and Highways England, with the remaining contributions to be funded by developers in due course.

Highways England project manager Salvatore Zappala said: “The new junction will provide additional capacity for the Ashford area and reduce the congestion at the existing junction 10. A new junction will unlock the potential for future growth in the Ashford area. It’s important we hear from the public and I urge those interested in the scheme to fill in the consultation questionnaire before 17 March.”

A spokesman for Ashford Borough Council said: “The authority is a consultee on this application but we welcome the progress being made on this nationally significant infrastructure project as it is one of the priority projects that we wish to see come forward. It’s important that residents and businesses engage in the consultation process to help shape how best this plan can come to fruition.”