Drivers travelling from south-east London into Kent are being urged to plan ahead, with a series of overnight A2 closures set to bring disruption to one of the capital’s busiest arterial routes this week.
National Highways has scheduled roadworks on several sections of the A2 between Monday, September 28, and the early hours of Thursday, October 1. The programme includes full carriageway closures as well as restrictions on entry and exit slip roads, and drivers are being warned to expect delays on each of the three nights.
One of the most significant closures for London drivers affects the eastbound carriageway between Dartford Heath and Darenth Interchange, which will be shut on two consecutive nights from 10pm until 5.30am.
Monday night into Tuesday: September 28–29
The A2 will be closed in both directions between the Duke of York roundabout and Eastern Docks from 8pm until 6am.
Tuesday night into Wednesday: September 29–30
Four separate closures are planned:
- The A2 in both directions between the Duke of York roundabout and Eastern Docks, closed again from 8pm until 6am
- The A2 eastbound from the Ebbsfleet entry slip road to Hall Road, closed from 9pm until 6am
- The A2 westbound at the Boughton entry slip road, closed from 8pm until 6am
- The A2 eastbound from Dartford Heath to Darenth Interchange, closed from 10pm until 5.30am
The Dartford Heath closure is particularly relevant for drivers travelling from south-east London towards Kent on the A2.
Wednesday night into Thursday: September 30–October 1
Four closures are planned:
- The A2 westbound at the Cobham exit slip road, closed from 8pm until 6am
- The A2 westbound at the Boughton entry slip road, closed from 8pm until 6am
- The A2 eastbound from the Pepperhill entry slip road to Hall Road, closed from 9pm until 6am
- The A2 eastbound from Dartford Heath to Darenth Interchange, closed again from 10pm until 5.30am
What drivers should do
Motorists heading to or from Kent overnight should check their journeys before setting off, allow extra time and follow the signed diversion routes that will be in place while the closures are in operation.
If you regularly use the A2 for late shifts, airport runs or early starts, it is worth building in an extra 20 to 30 minutes and having an alternative route in mind. Sat-nav systems usually pick up official diversions, but they can lag behind closures that start at short notice. Drivers should also check the latest National Highways information before travelling, as planned roadworks can be changed or postponed at short notice, particularly during poor weather.
Keep an eye on our rolling guide to A2 closures and roadworks across London and Kent for the latest shutdowns, and check our round-up of M25 closures this week if your journey takes you onto the motorway network.
Why the closures happen overnight
Overnight closures are the standard approach for engineering work on busy strategic routes such as the A2. Carrying out roadworks between 8pm and 6am — and, in the Dartford case, from 10pm to 5.30am — allows National Highways teams to shut carriageways safely while the road is at its quietest, minimising disruption during the daytime peaks when tens of thousands of vehicles use the route between London and the Kent coast.
Full carriageway closures, rather than simple lane restrictions, are typically used when the work cannot be carried out safely with traffic passing, such as resurfacing, bridge inspections or other major maintenance. The trade-off is short, sharp disruption overnight in exchange for keeping the road fully open through the day.
Anyone heading into the capital this weekend should also check our guide to London road closures and bus diversions during a packed events calendar, while drivers in the east of the city can read about the Gallows Corner flyover’s full reopening following its £67.4m improvement works.
