Project: Bean Road Tunnel (Bean Road Underpass) — Kent Thameside, UK
Client: Kent County Council (Growth, Environment & Transport)
Contractor: Erith Contractors Limited
Contract Value: £18.6 million (excl. VAT)
Award Date: December 10 2025 — formally confirmed January 2026
Programme: Fastrack sustainable transport network
Location: B255 Bean Road between Whitecliffe (Eastern Quarry) & Bluewater
Delivery: Main construction early 2026 to 2027
Contract Scope
Design & construction of a new 75-metre tunnel under the B255 Bean Road to enable grade-separated movement for Fastrack buses, pedestrians and cyclists.
Tunnel to house a 3.5 m wide bi-directional Fastrack busway plus combined footway/cycleway.
Works include ground excavation through chalk, temporary traffic management, drainage, and integration with existing Fastrack infrastructure.
Maintains connection between the new Whitecliffe residential developments, Bluewater Shopping Centre and Ebbsfleet International station.
Procurement Highlights
Competitive tender — Five bids received; Erith Contractors selected.
- Part-funded by the Department for Transport Bus Service Improvement Plan, with contributions from Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, Bluewater, and Eastern Quarry Ltd.
- Planning permission reinstated in March 2025 after earlier consent lapsed; preparatory pre-construction works underway in early 2026.
- Work staged to minimise disruption, with staggered lane closures and night-time operations where possible.
Strategic Impact
The Bean Road Tunnel forms a critical link in Kent Thameside’s Fastrack rapid transit system, delivering:
- Enhanced sustainable transport connections linking key residential, commercial and rail transport hubs.
- Reduced at-grade traffic conflicts on the B255 corridor.
- Improved active travel routes for walking and cycling.
This award marks one of the most significant local infrastructure investments in the area in recent years — unlocking better access and greener bus travel across the expanding Ebbsfleet Garden City. 02/26
