Could this be the start of nearly four months of motoring misery? Drivers faced gridlock getting around town after gas network roadworks started this week.

Queues in Canterbury Road in Ashford backed up as far as the ring road after gas network repairs began more than a mile away.

The roadworks have started at the junction of the A28 where it meets Faversham Road and the turning for the Little Burton housing estate, with temporary traffic lights causing major delays for the next four weeks.

Motorists have been told to expect up to four months of chaos because of the roadworks, which will continue up to the Conningbrook roundabout near the Spearpoint Recreation Ground.

The work is being carried out by gas company SGN, who are replacing metal pipes with new plastic ones to make the supply more reliable and safe as part of the 16-week upgrade.

But it’s not the end of the bad news, as KCC Highways are set to begin a further set of roadworks at the ring road.

The roadworks will be start on Saturday, April 9 and will run concurrently with the gas repair works. They are set to take 20 weeks.

It will see a new yellow box junction and friction road surface installed at the junction of Somerset Road and North Street, and improve the junction of Somerset Road and Mace Lane with traffic markings. For more information see page 7 of today’s Kentish Express.

Have you been affected by the roadworks? What do you think of the roadworks? Email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk.