A £91 million scheme to upgrade the Bell Common Tunnel on the M25 in Essex was officially opened by Transport Minister Chris Mole this week.
The project – which has been completed two months ahead of schedule – is part of a major Government investment to improve journey time reliability and safety on Europe’s busiest motorway.
The Highways Agency has resurfaced the carriageway through the 515 metre-long tunnel and installed improved lighting and ventilation. Fire safety systems have also been replaced. CCTV cameras to help traffic officers spot and clear up incidents in the tunnel more quickly have also been installed.
Transport Minister Chris Mole said: “I am delighted that this major upgrade has been delivered two months early.
The 120,000 motorists and hauliers who use this busy part of the M25 every day will all benefit from the upgrade which brings the tunnel, opened in 1983, up to the highest safety standards. Improved lighting, ventilation and fire safety systems have been installed – and new CCTV cameras will help Highways Agency traffic officers keep the motorway moving.
“The work is part of a major package of improvements to deliver improved journey time reliability and safety on the M25 as a whole. The Holmesdale Tunnel at junction 25, west of Bell Common, has already been upgraded and the two busiest sections of the M25, between junctions 16 and 23 and 27 and 30, are currently being widened to increase capacity. We also plan to open up the hard shoulder as a traffic lane at peak times between junctions 5 and 7 and from 23 to 27.”
