Gareth Johnson: Highways Agency gives go ahead to Littledale roadworks

This week Gareth Johnson met representatives from the Highways Agency to discuss the viaduct problems at Littledale.

The Highways Agency have agreed to replace the joints which are the causing noise and disruption to the residents.  The expansion joints are where the thuds take place when the wheels of vehicles hit the edge that is facing the vehicle.

They have agreed to carry out this work before next summer so that the residents in Littledale do not have to go through another summer where they cannot open their windows.

Gareth said:  “This has been one of my priorities since becoming elected as the MP for Dartford and after nearly three years of campaigning by the residents and the work of the local councillors, I feel that this is genuine progress on this issue and is a vindication of all the hard work put in by the residents".

In a joint statement Cllrs David Hammock, Rebecca Shanks and Ian Armitt said:  “It has been one of the biggest issues in this part of the ward and we are delighted that Gareth was able to secure this commitment from the Highways Agency”.

Editors’ notes:

It is anticipated that the work will be carried out in spring 2011 and take approximately two weeks to complete. The work will probably take place during night-time closures.

The Highways Agency has agreed to spend over £100,000 on this project but cannot say for certain if this will rectify the problem until they try it out.

The joint they have elected to try has not been used in the UK before but is used in a number of other European countries.ENDS