A huge 72-mile diversion is back in place for the latest M2 closure this weekend... with drivers again being sent through Operation Brock on the M20.

The coastbound stretch of the M2 between Junction 5 for Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Maidstone, and Junction 6 at Faversham shut from 8pm on Friday and remains closed until Monday morning.

Like last weekend, all traffic will be diverted south down the A249 to the M20 then on to the A20, A2 and back to the M2 at Junction 6, where the diversion ends.

The closure will last for 58 hours before reopening at 6am on Monday.

The official detour route takes motorists down Detling Hill, onto the M20, through the Brock contraflow, down to Dover and up the A2 past Canterbury to Faversham.

While the coastbound M2 is to be completely closed for 12 miles, the motorway will remain open in the opposite direction, on the London-bound side.

National Highways is enforcing the closure in order to carry out bridge repair and waterproofing works.

It is the second of several weekend closures planned for the M2.

Further work resulting in the closure of the London-bound side is due to take place at later dates.

This weekend will see drivers travelling to the east of the county from Swale be directed off the M2 at Junction 5.

After going down the A249 Detling Hill they will be sent onto the M20 where they will join the 50mph restriction in the ever-lasting Brock contraflow.

The traffic management scheme, brought in two months ago as a way of attempting to reduce queues at Dover, is set to remain in force.

Fed-up motorists have continually called for the "pointless" system to be removed, but highways bosses say it will be kept in place until the Jubilee weekend at the earliest.

After going through Brock and onto the A20 into Dover, drivers will then be directed up the A2 past Lydden.

The A2 on the approach to Canterbury is down to one lane to allow for the extension of the off-slip at Wincheap.

The three London-bound closures of the M2 are planned for July 1 to 4, July 15 to 18 and July 22 to 25.

A National Highways spokesman said: "We’re working on the bridges that carry Stuppington Road, Wells Lane and Hunt Kennels over the M2 between junctions 5 and 6.

"We’re replacing expansion joints, waterproofing and resurfacing them. This work will improve safety on these bridges."