New road tunnel link to Bluewater set to begin in coming months
Work to build a new tunnel linking new housing in Ebbsfleet and Fastrack buses to Bluewater shopping centre is set to begin imminently.
A report before Dartford council shows work on the long awaited connection will commence in sping 2026.
According to Dartford and Kent County Councils:
“The scheme will construct a new tunnel through the chalk spine under the B255 Bean Road between Bluewater Shopping Centre and the Whitecliffe development. It will directly connect the centre to the new Ebbsfleet housing developments and Ebbsfleet International Railway Station. It will form part of the Fastrack bus rapid transit system within Dartford and Gravesham.
“The tunnel will house a 3.5 metre wide single way linking Fastrack busway” to the shopping centre.
Contractor Erith will deliver the scheme.
Delays
The project has been a long time coming. Initially proposed around a decade ago it was cancalled some years ago before further funding was found.
Fastrack route E will eventually link housing in Ebbsfleet (and an eventual 15k homes) to Bluewater though it currently only runs every 30 minutes. That will need to be improved to make it a usable form of transport compared to the car.
In other news the council report notes that some are calling for further TfL bus stops in Kent, though that does of course raise a whole diferent issues about TfL services out of London and who pays. A post on that may follow soon.
This part of Kent is seeing mass housing growth and new housing now results in a continous, built-up, urban mass from London far beyond the boundary of the city.
Where Bluewater was once arift amongst chalk pits it’s now part of a graowing urban mass. As ever, London grows and swallows surrounding areas in all but name.
My understanding is that the A should be extended to Gravesend (replacing the E) when this tunnel opens as was the plan originally.
Yep I think you’re right but tbh I expect the whole network will be rejigged again by 2027-2028. There was mention of that by council officers
Sounds like a good idea to build a single lane bus only road to pass underneath the A2 from Bluewater shopping centre to Whitecliffe and Longfield.
Not sure where you’ve got Longfield from Andrew!!!
Yeah good point. Can’t see Fastrack buses going to Longfield.
Sigh. Rome burns.
A new road to be built to pass underneath the A2 does seem like a good idea especially for buses to serve the Whitecliffe/Eastern Quarry housing development. That I do think it should be given the go ahead anyway.
Plus what about operating a shuttle bus service from Greenhithe railway station to Bluewater shopping centre. Unless there already is a shuttle bus service that operates from Greenhithe station to Bluewater shopping centre.