motorway mile east west motorway english counties referred road primary westbound destination new town motorway cost million construct lane dual majority length sections lane spur connects motorway near trunk road wellington motorway forms strategic route roughly following path north westwards port motorway forms vital county road network motorway handles aadt vehicles history planning idea originally presented high volumes traffic london road largely constructed civil engineer early 19th century following route connected rochester kent initial plan motorway following present route designed alleviate roads handled commercial traffic port destined ireland proposal early 1960s new town provide housing area named designated likely built government wanted increase transport provision rest invited construction company investigate report impact proposals traffic demand proposed site best highway solution meet demand predicted demand vehicles day need dual lane motorway corridors identified possible new motorway route option possibly upgrade existing roads route followed corridor junction new corridor established north east junction additionally proposed existing upgraded dual grade separated standards improvements trunk routes wellington bypass section opened named wellington bypass bypassing existing towns formed renumbered motorway extended bypass removed traffic heavily route areas wellington removed country notorious head crossroads wellington delays hours experienced summer months construction wellington bypass constructed contractor problems followed years completion rigid concrete broke road built poor rigid concrete historically heavily mined route aesthetic design bridges heavily criticised years original replaced asphalt kilometres section junction excluding wellington bypass divided contracts awarded different companies sections remained design sir partners contract given utilised slip form construct concrete section led standard future motorway construction contract awarded douglas construction ltd year contract completed months dry weather allowed earthworks completed ahead schedule contract taken southern ltd constructed contract contract largest contract awarded present day section took longest complete faced opposition wanted disruption junction remain minimal forge junction awarded relatively late company junction precipitated construction central commercial area exchange upgraded allow traffic motorway join exit directions forge section junction junction opened traffic december park forge section junction opened november motorway cost million pounds build adjusted inflation come approximately million help alleviate opposition motorway design feet wide built pass natural landscape possible man hills constructed planting new trees helped camouflage motorway view cut noise level aesthetic improvement project took half years complete employed people impact recent strong economic growth lower unemployment area attributed construction motorway unemployment 1980s figure fallen motorway enabled development distribution centres industrial estates park provided employment area highest pollution levels borough particularly urban area junctions particularly busy mid august carries traffic festival south east route road runs west junction motorway near map passes south near junction north reaching junction junction road enters passes north junction junction road passes railway line centre junctions road runs south wellington joining map continues dual opened march junction operated welcome break service station motorway travelling east proposed developments extension currently investigating possibility extending westward placing county town motorway map time currently traffic continue dual ends wellington road surface speed limits change road motorway standard ring road need removed hard shoulder need built cause delays traffic currently meets junction access northbound toll northbound access junction direct route toll junction plans link road toll junction supported principle secretary display expected construction date cost scheme paid company owns operates toll proposals february local newspaper reported plans create linking town centre south east railway station presently traffic travel single portion pass access junction motorway metres current bridge plans involve having motorway junctions immediately complex proposals western bypasses rejected government junctions data driver location signs provide distance information
M54 motorway