M2 Traffic News
The M2 motorway may be small but it’s a vital road network that connects the A2 by Dartford to the A2 by Canterbury. Spanning a mere 25.7 miles, this bypass acts as an important route for many towns and cities including Maidstone, Chatham, Faversham and the Isle of Sheppey. The M2 carries traffic over the flowing River Medway. The river meanders into The Historic Dockyard of Chatham, past Rochester Castle, which can be seen in the distance from the M2.
Work began on the M2 in the mid-1960s to support the congestion which overpowered the A2 through the Medway Towns. There are only seven junctions on the M2. Making up just 25 miles of the 62-mile bypass, the M2 is still regarded as an important network for the population in this corner of the UK.
The M2 is a common alternative route for vehicles making the journey from the Dover Channel crossing, who don’t want to tackle the overcrowded M20. You can reach southeast London quite easily using the M2 as well as the rest of Greater London connecting onto the M25 via the A2. Because of this, the M2 opens up routes heading north and further west towards Crawley, using other main motorways such as the M20 and the M26.
Before you make any journey, it’s a good idea to check for any M2 travel news. Plan the best route using the RAC Route Planner to help you avoid delays caused by congestion.
Worst Junctions on the M2
Supporting the heavy traffic in the southeast of England is a tough job for the M2 and it does have its weaknesses. Thankfully, Highways England has noticed the problems and road developments are on their way to improve conditions. Tackle heavy congestion by planning your journey ahead using the RAC Route Planner for M2 travel updates before you set off. Here are some of the worst junctions to be mindful of on the M2.
Junction 1 - Where the A2 spans onto the M2 and branches off into the A289 and into the town of Strood. With so much going on you can expect traffic to build up. If you’re taking the exit, make sure you get in the correct lane early and watch out for cars flowing onto the M2.
Junction 5 - This junction is the first main connection crossed by the A249 which is the main route on and off the Isle of Sheppey. With this, junction 5 sees heavy traffic with commuters coming off the island and heading into the surrounding cities. This area has been known to be an accident hotspot so do take extra care, but there are plans to improve congestion.
Accident Hotspots on the M2
The M2 is one of the smallest motorways within the UK and rolls on from the widened A2 which stems from southeast London. As this road spans from the capital, it can become quite congested. Do take your time and be mindful of these accident blackspots. Use the RAC Route Planner for up to date M2 traffic news to help you find the best route to take.
Between junction 4 and junction 5 has been known to be challenging. This may be because of the complexity of the looping A249 interchange, which connects onto the M2 at junction 5. Build up can be caused due to the dramatic turn on and off the A249 slip road. Take care and be aware of cars joining the M2 in this area.
There has been previously reported accidents surrounding junction 7. This may be because the road naturally curves against the flow of traffic and if you’re not used to this route you could be caught off guard. On the approach to junction 7 make sure you create enough space between you and the car in front in case of sharp breaking.
Upcoming M2 Major Roadworks
The M2 is in the southeastern part of England and links Kent to London and the rest of the UK. With ongoing improvements and maintenance plans to keep our sprawling road network safe and functional, keep an eye out for any M2 news to avoid traffic. Use the RAC Route Planner app for M2 traffic updates to help you plan your route and avoid delays.
Upcoming major roadworks on the M2 include:
Junction 5 - To improve the slip road and congestion at the Stockbury Roundabout, which links up with the A249, a major scheme is set to begin in 2019/20. The project will include replacing the existing roundabout with a new flyover interchange to allow for free-flowing movement on the A249 and M2.
For more up-to-date information on any planned projects, do check the Highways England website.