Work to replace Ashford’s Orbital Park roundabout with traffic lights will continue beyond October as highways bosses have asked contractors to ease off over the summer holidays.

Drivers have faced huge tailbacks since May when lane closures were put in place on A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road, with traffic queueing in both directions.

But from Thursday, July 21, one lane will reopen on the westbound carriageway – towards the Cloverleaf roundabout – to help keep traffic moving while high volumes are expected.

However the eastbound carriageway – towards Junction 10a – will continue as one lane.

A spokesman for Finberry housebuilder Crest Nicholson, the developer behind the scheme, said: “National Highways has requested that the traffic management on the A2070 in Ashford is removed, with two lanes open from July 21 to accommodate traffic during the peak summer period.

“Unfortunately, the new traffic conditions imposed by National Highways are likely to delay the project’s completion.

“We are working closely with National Highways to determine time scales and thank local residents for their patience.

“We’ll share further updates as soon as we can.”

Work on the new road layout – called the ‘Bellamy Gurner’ scheme – was supposed to start in Easter but was delayed twice because of Operation Brock.

Contractors FM Conway then started work in May with the project scheduled to finish in October.

However work was suspended over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend in a bid to ease congestion, and now further delays mean the completion date has again been pushed back.

The head of operational integration at National Highways, Nicky Potts, said: “We have worked with FM Conway and Kent resilience partners to ensure works on the A2070 are completed and traffic management is removed prior to the start of the school holidays.

“FM Conway is accelerating the works to make this happen.

“This work is scheduled to be completed by July 21.

“There will be a need to retain a lane one closure on the eastbound carriageway on safety grounds, between Cloverleaf and Orbital Park roundabout.”

Later this year, National Highways says a lane will be closed westbound in the autumn to connect the roads to the new sections.

This will also allow gas works to be carried out by SGN (Southern Gas Network).