Motorway widening scheme announced

A £138 million contract to add extra lanes to the M25 and the A2 near Dartford in Kent has been awarded to the Highways Agency.

Transport minister Stephen Ladyman said the new building works would be “a welcome step forward for the many thousands who use these busy routes each day”.

He added: “The schemes are also important for unlocking the potential of the Thames Gateway, the biggest regeneration site in Europe.”

The contract includes £66 million to add an extra lane to the M25 between junctions 1b and three for four miles, and £72 million to put an extra lane on the A2 for 1.5 miles.