News

£4M NEW ROAD WILL BE PLAIN SAILING

Dover Docks traffic will be plain sailing within two years  if plans for a £4m road get the nod from planners.

The scheme, which will involve the construction of a slip road at ground level onto the A20, will significantly reduce traffic on the roundabout outside the docks. It is being put forward by Dover Harbour Board  who say it will speed up traffic flows from the  Eastern Docks.

The harbour board has embarked on a public consultation exercise prior to submitting the plans in October. The £4 million scheme could be completed by Summer 2007.

About half the project cost involves the construction of a new sea wall, a small reclamation of the beach at East Cliff and the slip road construction. The rest of the works are within the Eastern Docks.

The roundabout is a bottleneck in the port’s operations when two or more ferries discharge at the same time, especially when this coincides with peaks of port and local traffic. The Port of Dover Police frequently manage traffic to ease the situation, but this is not the best use of police time.

Non-port traffic heading for Jubilee Way will benefit greatly from the scheme because the dock exit road will bypass the roundabout to join the A20, whilst the slip road from the dock onto the A2 will be improved.

The plans will be on display at the Dover Discovery Centre from 19th September until the end of the month. A representative from the Harbour Board will be available to discuss the scheme at advertised times, and the public are being invited to complete a feedback questionnaire. Residents affected by the proposal are being consulted directly.