Longfield Road Improvement Scheme
North Farm
Newsletter 5
Tunbridge Wells
February 2015
Highlights
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Successful implementation of Christmas
traffic management embargo.
Sections of new asphalt road surfacing
laid.
Completed:
 Majority of off road deep
drainage;
 Diversion & connection of Geo
Networks fibre cabling;
 Diversion and connection of 3
UKPN services;
 Diversion and connection of
medium pressure gas main;
 Fill to back of precast walls;
 Installation of parapets to top of
precast walls.
Longfield Road kerbing and surfacing – A21 to Knights Park
Progress so far
In order to enable local businesses to take full advantage of the Christmas and New Year trading periods, it was a
requirement that many construction activities were curtailed to ensure that there was no impact on the Longfield
Road traffic flows and that access to the retail outlets and businesses was maintained. KCC, Amey and Lafarge
Tarmac worked closely to ensure this was implemented.
The construction site re-mobilised on 12th January after a short shut down period and considerable progress has
been made, installing the necessary infrastructure in preparation for undertaking the new surfacing work. Recent
activities have focussed on:
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Wall Parapets have been installed on the top of the concrete retaining walls outside Asda and Oak
Furniture Land and the back of these walls are being brought up to the final levels.
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Earthwork operations are almost complete in the areas either side of the Knights Park junction
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Off road installation and testing of deep drainage predominantly completed either side of the Knights Park
junction and outside John Lewis.
Progress continued……….
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Throughout the site, progress has been made on utility diversions and installations:
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Geo Networks Fibre now cabled and connected, diversion completed;
Gas infrastructure now installed, medium pressure gas main now connected and live to new gas
governor;
Water connection on Knights Park diverted and completed;
Electricity infrastructure now substantially installed, 3 cable routes now diverted, connected and
made live;
Virgin Media infrastructure underway with some ducting and new chambers installed and
constructed;
BT ducting commenced with chamber construction underway;
Installation of streetlight ducting underway.
Night works programme to construct and install ducts across the road is now completed in various
locations.
Kerbs and new road drainage has been installed enabling the new road layers to be constructed in the
areas either side of the Knights Park junction and outside John Lewis.
Coming up over the next few weeks
February / March 2015:
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Knights Park / Longfield Road - implementation of traffic management for reconfiguration of existing
junction to allow construction of new roundabout and footpath, including the connection of deep drainage
and utility diversions and installation of temporary lighting systems;
Kingstanding Way / Longfield Road – implementation of traffic management and reconfiguration of
existing junction to allow construction of new roundabout and permanent carriageway. This will include
connection of deep drainage, utility diversions and construction of new footpaths;
Great Lodge / Longfield Road – Completion of drainage and utility connections, installation of temporary
lighting systems and temporary junction reconfiguration;
Longfield Road West – Completion of footpath, temporary diversion of pedestrians to allow the existing
footpath to be tied in to the new carriageway, lowering of BT services, connection of road drainage and
installation of permanent lighting systems in new footpath.
Preparation works and utility diversions to enable the traffic management to switch to the new works areas
in the south verge of Longfield Road.
The Longfield Road Project Team recognises that the roads and footpaths are a vital part of the North Farm
community and efforts are ongoing to minimise impact of the Works on local residents and businesses. However
construction has now reached the stage where elements of the works will involve traffic management on the
existing live carriageway and will need to be undertaken during peak and off peak hours. The works will also involve
the introduction of pedestrian diversion routes in order to ensure a safe environment for both the public and our
workforce.
Businesses will continue to be updated prior to the commencement of any construction activities that may directly
affect them.
A21 Scheme - Highways Agency Summary Update
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The Highways Agency’s A21 scheme will be progressing into the main construction phase in the Spring.
From late March the temporary traffic management layout, including a 40mph speed limit and safety
barriers, will be put onto the A21 from the lay-bys just south of Longfield Road to Vauxhall Lane near
Tonbridge.
When this layout is installed there will also be a right-turn ban into and out of Pembury Walks and Half
Moon Lane. This right-turn ban will remain in place until the new Fairthorne junction is opened in 2016.
The section of the scheme affecting the Longfield / A21 roundabout will be the first section to commence,
with a period of night works initially planned to construct temporary road alignments in the vicinity. Meetings
between the Longfield Road Site Team and the Highways Agency are continuing so both schemes are coordinated.
Further information on the phasing of this work can be provided by contacting the Highways
Agency Project Team Communications Manager Pam Hobson via pam.hobson@balfourbeatty.com.
Keeping you informed
It is our aim to keep you informed of the works that are taking place in
Longfield Road.
The next public exhibition will be held on the 23rd and 24th February
in the entrance of the Asda store, Longfield Road between 4pm and
8pm. There will be drawings of various phases of the improvement
scheme giving an overview of the project and you will have an opportunity
to ask the Project Team questions.
Lafarge Tarmac has a dedicated Public Liaison Officer, Carole Jones, who
is available to deal with any queries. She regularly engages with the local
businesses and residents to update them on construction activities and
address any concerns that may arise. You can contact her on the phone
number and email address below.
There is also a drop-in Visitors Centre in the site compound for you to visit
in person with any queries you may have. The centre is open Monday to
Friday from 10:00am – 2:00pm (or by appointment) and is located in
Knights Park.
Lafarge Tarmac Site Compound and Visitor Centre.
24 hr Free phone helpline number: 0800 1601005
Email: longfield.feedback@lafargetarmac.com
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