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Images show Dover's Fastrack route taking shape

Stunning images show the progress being made on a new link road created for a rapid bus route.

Work is taking shape on the £23m Fastrack scheme, which was announced for Dover last year.

The new road starts at the B&Q store at Whitfield. Picture: Barry Goodwin
The new road starts at the B&Q store at Whitfield. Picture: Barry Goodwin

As part of the project, a new 1.1km road has been built which will connect the retail park at Whitfield with Dover town centre and Dover Priory Station.

Drone images show the work already carried out on the new carriageway, which starts at the roundabout on Honeywood Parkway, near B&Q.

The road will connect to Dover Road, in Guston, near Frith Farm. This junction with Dover Road will be for buses, bicycles and pedestrians only.

A new bus, cycle and pedestrian-only bridge across the A2 at Whitfield will also be created, as well as a 1km road connecting Honeywood Parkway, near Tesco, to Archer's Court Road, on the northern side of the A2.

There will also be new pedestrian and cycle paths along the new roads.

Work is expected to be completed in 2023. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Work is expected to be completed in 2023. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Construction of the piling platform that will form the foundations for the bridge has also started.

A fleet of new electric buses will operate on Dover Fastrack, with the vehicles having priority on the proposed new express route.

It will become Kent's first zero emission bus service.

The team behind the ambitious project say "Fastrack will provide a reliable, high-quality bus service".

It is also designed to create an "effective transport interchange with Southeastern train services"; the timetable will make it easy to access High Speed train services from Dover Priory railway station.

A new bridge will be built over the A2 at Whitfield
A new bridge will be built over the A2 at Whitfield
Representatives from Dover District Council, Kent County Council, Homes England and contractors, Colas UK Projects Ltd, at the ground breaking of the Fastrack project earlier this year
Representatives from Dover District Council, Kent County Council, Homes England and contractors, Colas UK Projects Ltd, at the ground breaking of the Fastrack project earlier this year

The frequency of the service will increase in line with the managed expansion of Whitfield - where thousands of new homes are planned.

Dover is the county's second Fastrack service - the other based in Dartford.

A third part of the scheme will see carriageway widening and improvements to Dover Road from the Duke of York Royal Military School to the A258 Castle Hill Road junction.

Kent County Council is managing delivery of the project on behalf of Dover District Council (DDC).

Map to show the new Dover Fastrack route
Map to show the new Dover Fastrack route
A Fastrack service already operates in Dartford. Picture: Matthew Reading
A Fastrack service already operates in Dartford. Picture: Matthew Reading

The scheme is backed by central government with £22.9 million from a funding programme designed to help stimulate new housing development at Whitfield and the former Connaught Barracks site.

Construction work began in February and is expected to take 18 months.

A DDC spokesman said: “We are very pleased to see that great progress continues to be made on this exciting project, bringing Kent’s first zero-emission bus service to Dover.

Future developments in Whitfield will be linked to Dover thanks to the route. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Future developments in Whitfield will be linked to Dover thanks to the route. Picture: Barry Goodwin

"This represents a major investment in public transport in Dover, and is key to the delivery of new housing in Whitfield and the former Connaught Barracks site, and to delivering our ambitions to cut carbon emissions."

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