TheMedway Tunnelis atunnelunder theRiver MedwaylinkingStroodwithChathaminKent,England.It forms part of theA289Medway Towns Northern Relief Road. The Medway Tunnel is the firstimmersed tubetunnel to be built in England and only the second of this type in the UK, the other atConwy,NorthWales.[1]
 A view of the Medway Tunnel | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | connecting Strood to Chatham in Kent, UK |
| Coordinates | 51°24′01″N0°31′36″E/ 51.400357°N 0.526721°E |
| Status | active |
| Route |  A289connectingStroodwithChathaminKent,under theRiver Medway,in the UK |
| Crosses | River Medway |
| Operation | |
| Constructed | May 1992 – June 1996 |
| Opened | 22 June 1996 |
| Operator | Medway Council |
| Traffic | vehicle |
| Character | public |
| Toll | none (free) |
| Technical | |
| Length | 2,360 ft (720 m) |
| No.oflanes | 2 (each way) |
| Operating speed | 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) |
History
editProposal and construction
editTheRochester Bridgehad been the lowest river crossing of theRiver Medwayfor centuries, and despite expansion in the 1970s was very congested. In the late 1980s, the Medway Tunnel was proposed downstream of the Bridge to relieve congestion on the bridge, to allow greater access to the Medway Towns and assist with redevelopment ofChatham Dockyard.[2]
| Medway Tunnel Act 1990 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to authorise the Wardens and Assistants of Rochester Bridge in the county of Kent to construct works and to acquire lands; and for other purposes. |
| Citation | 1990c. xxii |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 26 July 1990 |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Medway Tunnel Bill – promoted by theRochester Bridge Trust– was submitted to Parliament in 1988. TheMedway Tunnel Act 1990(c. xxii) was passed granting the Rochester Bridge Trust the power to build and own the tunnel.[3]
The £80m project was carried out by anHBM Civil Engineering/Tarmac Constructionjoint venture, and started in May 1992.[3]The tunnel itself was constructed in three distinct sections. The central part of the tunnel is the 370 metres (1,210 ft) ofimmersed tube,which is linked tocut and covertunnels on both theStroodandChathambanks of the river,[1]with a total tunnel length of 720 metres (2,360 ft).[4]
As part of the construction project, 800 metres (2,600 ft) of new dual carriageway and a new junction was built to connect the new tunnel to the existing road network.[4]Separate from the project, various bypasses and link roads were constructed to provide access to the local area - theA289Medway Northern Relief Road.[2]
The Medway Tunnel was officially opened by thePrincess Royalon 12 June 1996.[3][5]In 1996, it won an award from the UK'sConcrete Society.[4]
Running costs
editIn 2008 negotiations were completed byMedway Councilwhich purchased the freehold of the tunnel from the Trust for £1 with a £3.6m contribution on future costs.[3][6]
Operation
editAs of March 2023, the tunnel is used by around 40,000 vehicles per day.[7]
Cyclists are currently not allowed to travel through the tunnel which is not part of the local cycle network.[8]
References
edit- ^ab"Medway Tunnel".medway.gov.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 14 December 2013.Retrieved14 December2013.
- ^ab"Medway Tunnel".The Rochester Bridge Trust.Retrieved1 October2020.
- ^abcd"Rochester Bridge Trust".Archived fromthe originalon 16 November 2007.
- ^abc"Medway Tunnel, UK's second immersed tube tunnel".mottmac.com.2012. Archived fromthe originalon 30 October 2013.Retrieved14 December2013.
- ^"Classic pictures of Kent in the 1990s".Kent Online.Retrieved5 January2023.
- ^"Medway Tunnel Transfer Notice - The Rochester Bridge Trust".The Rochester Bridge Trust.18 June 2009.
- ^"UK & Eire Road Tunnel Directory".Road Tunnel Association.Retrieved16 March2023.
- ^"Medway's Cycling Action Plan 2016/18".Medway Council. p. 18.Retrieved4 July2019.
External links
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