Kent County Council (KCC) has awarded the £18.6 million contract to Erith Contractors Limited to deliver the major Bean Road Underpass project - a key element of the Fastrack programme, which aims to improve sustainable transport links across Kent Thameside.
Part funded by the Department for Transport, the project supports KCC’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, designed to encourage greater bus use and make Kent’s services more sustainable for the future. Further funding has been provided by Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and Bluewater, plus a contribution from Eastern Quarry Ltd.
The Bean Road Underpass will create a new 75-metre tunnel beneath the B255 Bean Road, connecting Whitecliffe (formerly Eastern Quarry) with Bluewater Shopping Centre. This direct link will form part of the Fastrack bus rapid transit system, improving connectivity between new residential developments, Bluewater, and Ebbsfleet International Railway Station.
The underpass will include a Fastrack busway, as well as a footway and cycleway.
Peter Osborne, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “This £18.6 million investment marks one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Kent Thameside in recent years. The Bean Road Underpass will transform how people travel across the area, creating faster, greener connections between new communities, Bluewater, and Ebbsfleet International.
‘Thanks to funding from the Department for Transport, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and Bluewater, plus a contribution from Eastern Quarry Ltd, this project will deliver long-term benefits for residents, businesses, and visitors.”
Pre-construction survey works will need to take place from January to allow essential monitoring equipment and rock netting to be installed ahead of the main tunnelling works, which are scheduled to begin in Summer 2026.
For the safety of the teams carrying out the works, staggered lane closures will need to be in place on the B255 and Bluewater Parkway for up to five months.
To reduce the impact on road users, the works have been carefully planned to minimise disruption where possible, including nighttime closures where possible.
For more information about this project, visit: Bean Road Fastrack Scheme - Kent County Council.
