A2 closures will disrupt night-time journeys between south-east London and Kent this week, with National Highways lining up three consecutive nights of roadworks on the route.
From the evening of Monday, September 28, through to the early hours of Thursday, October 1, sections of the dual carriageway will shut overnight. Some of the closures affect the full carriageway, while others are limited to entry and exit slip roads.
The programme starts on Monday night with the A2 closed in both directions between the Duke of York roundabout and Eastern Docks. Tuesday and Wednesday bring a further eight closures, including a repeat of that full-carriageway shutdown and two nights running on the key eastbound stretch between Dartford Heath and Darenth Interchange.
A2 closures at a glance
- When: Overnight from Monday, September 28, to the early hours of Thursday, October 1
- Where: The A2 in Kent and south-east London, including Dartford Heath, Darenth, Ebbsfleet, Cobham, Boughton and Pepperhill, plus the Duke of York roundabout to Eastern Docks
- Hours: Closures run from 8pm to 6am, 9pm to 6am or 10pm to 5.30am depending on the works
- Reason: Planned National Highways roadworks
- Advice: Allow extra time, follow signed diversions and check for updates before setting off
Full list of A2 closures this week
| Night | Stretch affected | Closure times |
|---|---|---|
| Monday Sep 28 into Tuesday Sep 29 | A2 both directions, Duke of York roundabout to Eastern Docks | 8pm to 6am |
| Tuesday Sep 29 into Wednesday Sep 30 | A2 both directions, Duke of York roundabout to Eastern Docks | 8pm to 6am |
| Tuesday Sep 29 into Wednesday Sep 30 | A2 eastbound, Ebbsfleet entry slip road to Hall Road | 9pm to 6am |
| Tuesday Sep 29 into Wednesday Sep 30 | A2 westbound, Boughton entry slip road | 8pm to 6am |
| Tuesday Sep 29 into Wednesday Sep 30 | A2 eastbound, Dartford Heath to Darenth Interchange | 10pm to 5.30am |
| Wednesday Sep 30 into Thursday Oct 1 | A2 westbound, Cobham exit slip road | 8pm to 6am |
| Wednesday Sep 30 into Thursday Oct 1 | A2 westbound, Boughton entry slip road | 8pm to 6am |
| Wednesday Sep 30 into Thursday Oct 1 | A2 eastbound, Pepperhill entry slip road to Hall Road | 9pm to 6am |
| Wednesday Sep 30 into Thursday Oct 1 | A2 eastbound, Dartford Heath to Darenth Interchange | 10pm to 5.30am |
What drivers need to know
The heaviest disruption falls on the full-carriageway shutdowns between the Duke of York roundabout and Eastern Docks, which repeat on Monday and Tuesday nights. Anyone heading towards the Channel ports via that section will need to find another route.
For drivers in south-east London, the one to watch is the eastbound stretch between Dartford Heath and Darenth Interchange, closing from 10pm to 5.30am on both Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Slip-road closures can catch motorists out just as easily as full shutdowns. The westbound entry slip at Boughton is shut on both Tuesday and Wednesday nights, while the westbound exit slip at Cobham closes on Wednesday night only. Eastbound, the entry slips at Ebbsfleet (Tuesday night) and Pepperhill (Wednesday night) are both closed from 9pm to 6am as far as Hall Road.
It follows a separate incident which saw the A2 shut at Old Kent Road after a crash, with buses diverted.
Diversion routes and travel advice
National Highways will put signed diversion routes in place while each closure is running. Drivers are advised to follow the official signs rather than relying on sat-nav shortcuts, which can push traffic onto unsuitable local roads through villages around Dartford and Gravesend.
Motorists should allow extra time for overnight journeys and check their route before setting off. Planned roadworks can be altered or postponed at short notice, particularly in poor weather, so it is worth checking the latest National Highways travel information before travelling.
The works land in a busy week for the capital’s roads, with weekend road closures and bus diversions also on the cards and major renewal works beginning on the Hendon Way flyover.
Why the works are happening overnight
National Highways carries out disruptive maintenance at night to keep the strategic road network moving during the day. The A2 is one of the main arteries linking London with Kent and the Channel ports, carrying heavy freight as well as commuter traffic, so daytime closures would cause far greater disruption.
Even so, overnight travellers — including shift workers, coach passengers and lorry drivers — should plan around the published closure times and be ready for some delays.
