News

The Secretary of State for Transport has decided proposals for a new Dover Eastern Dock exit road can go ahead and work could start in Spring 2008.

The scheme, which will involve the construction of a slip road at ground level directly onto the A20, will significantly reduce traffic on the roundabout outside the dock.

Dover Harbour Board will shortly be inviting tenders for the £3 million project which could be completed early in 2009. About half the project cost involves the construction of a new sea wall and a small reclamation of the beach at East Cliff for the slip road construction. The rest of the works are within the dock.

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

“We are delighted the Secretary of State has decided that the Highways Order should be made and the approval process should be completed soon,” said Mike Krayenbrink, Director of Port Development, Dover Harbour Board.