The A2 near Bluewater will be closed for an entire weekend while workers install a bridge as part of a huge upgrade project.

The new bridge across the major route between Bean and Gravesend will see the road closed for two days next month.

How improvements at the A2 near Bean and Bluewater will take shape

Work will take place from 10pm on Friday, August 6 with the road reopening at 6am on Monday, August 9 as highways chiefs dub the work a "major milestone" in the £112 million scheme.

The coastbound carriageway will shut between the exit and entry slip roads at Bean.

But the entire stretch of the A2 from Ebbsfleet to the M25 will close.

Diversions are in place throughout the area during the weekend as Highways England continues its programme to upgrade the Bean junction.

The existing Bean Lane bridge will also be closed for the duration of the work.

The scheme is due to be completed in 2022/23. Video: Highways England

Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross but the bridge will be closed to traffic.

The following diversions are in place:

• A2 coastbound – Exit the A2 at the Bean junction, take Bean Lane north to the A296, travel along the A296 Watling Street to re-join the A2
• A2 Londonbound to M25 – Exit at the Ebbsfleet junction, travel north along the A2260 to Northfleet, A226 to Swanscombe, then the A206 to access the M25 at junction 1a
• Bluewater exiting traffic to A2 and M25 – Exit the centre on the eastside and travel north on the B255, at the first roundabout turn left onto the A226 London Road, then along the B2500 Watling Street to the A296 Princes Street roundabout
• Bean village local traffic from coastbound only – Use the A2 coastbound diversion up and over the Bean junction, then continue along the A2 and exit at Ebbsfleet. Travel down the link to Pepperhill, then use the roundabout to travel over the A2 bridge via Hall Road. Continue along Station Road and Betsham Road to access Bean village

Wider diversions for motorists travelling longer distances have also been released. These include:

• A2 Londonbound from M2 – Exit the M2 at junction 3 onto A229 or junction 5 onto A249, then use M20 to join the M25 at junction 3, then exit the M25 at junction 2 to re-join the A2
• A2 coastbound from Surrey – Exit the M25 at junction 5, then use the M26, M20 and either the A229 or A249 to join the M2
• A2 coastbound from Essex – Exit the M25 at junction 3, then use the M20 and either the A249 or A229 to join the M2

Highways England say a contingency weekend has been set aside in case work cannot be carried out as planned. This will be August 13-16.

The overhaul of the junction is planned due to increasing numbers of homes being built in the area over the coming years with 20,000 in the pipeline.

It was granted permission in June 2019 after approval from the Transport Secretary following a public inquiry.

The two junctions are 1.2 miles apart with Bean linking traffic with Bluewater and Ebbsfleet junction joining the A2 with the B259 Southfleet Road.

The proposals will see the Bean junction retain its existing layout but making the roundabouts larger and with traffic lights.

This includes enlarging the current roundabouts and adding in new signalised crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

At the Ebbsfleet junction, Highways England says the proposals "will broadly follow the existing road layout" but with the roundabouts extended and traffic lights installed.

A dual carriageway will be created to link the roundabouts with the A2 off slip roads kept and the slip roads on to the A2 widened.

The overall scheme is set to be completed by 2023.

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