Bridge Bypass
The opening of Bridge Bypass today marks a
further step in the plan to improve the A2 trunk
road progressively between the eastern end of
the lVl2 at Brenley Corner and Dover. With the
notable exception of a bypass to Canterbury, all
stages of the programme are either completed or
currently under construction.
The bypass has been designed by the County
Council's Highways and Transportation Department
under the direction of the County Surveyor (Mr.
Allen Smith) acting as agents for the Department
of the Environment (Regional Controller lVlr.
Phillip Bays).
Before detailed design of the scheme could
start, extensive investigations were necessary into
alternative routes, the geology of the area, the
future traffic loads for the road, the divisive effect
upon local farms, and the impact of the new road
on the local environment. A public exhibition
illustrating the proposals was held locally in
November 1972, followed by a public enquiry into
objections to the new road in May 1973. During
The line of the bypass is becoming apparent as teams of
excavators and lorries move challt in April 1975.
3IW~l_4
Highland Court Accommodation ridge is shown in June
1975 taking up the shape of the tel porary support scaffold.
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this time detailed design was under way for the roads
and bridges for the new route. Over 300 drawings were
prepared for the contract and competitive tenders were
invited in Spring 1974.
l\/lears Construction Limited, who have been carrying
out work for the County Council since the 1930's, won
the contract, and construction started in August 1974.
As the momentum of the work built up on site, the
contractor began to move ahead of the planned
programme, in spite of difficulties such as unexploded
bombs, and the unpredictable Nailbourne. Between late
Autumn 1974 and Spring 1975 twice the normal
amount of rain fell, and the Nailbourne began flowing
above ground for the first time this decade causing
extensive flooding of the works in the valley. lt was
evident that the valley would be waterlogged for some
time to come, and wide ranging revisions to the
construction programme were necessary.
ln addition to the Bypass to Bridge, the contract
included the dualling and improvement of the existing
A2 between the Southern end of the bypass at
Coldharbour Lane and Barham Cross Roads. Along this
length earlier excavations by the Canterbury
Archaelogical Society located numerous Saxon graves
and the Society have kept a watchful eye on the
construction work where other relics of the past have
been found including a flint arrow and pieces of
pottery.
A feature of the project is the landscape treatment in
Bifron's Park, where the road is some 35 feet above the