The weather, along with Operation Stack, a planning wrangle, design issues and the weight of traffic are all being blamed for major delays to roadworks around the Drover’s Roundabout.

The installation of pedestrian crossings at Drover’s, also known as the Cow Roundabout, is still not complete and changes have taken twice as long as promised.

Work to put in new so-called “toucan crossings” to benefit the Repton Park development began on Monday, January 28 and the 14-week project was due to be completed by Friday, April 25.

But three months after the scheduled finish date – and although the disruption for drivers is not as bad as it was – the lights are still not up and running.

For most of the past six months, traffic has been reduced to one lane on all of the five approaches to the busy roundabouts – a key interchange for traffic heading to and from the town centre and the M20.

Jacobs, the project supervisors and civil engineers working on behalf of the developers, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey, who are funding the work, admitted the project has caused much more aggravation to drivers than expected.

Martin Addison from Jacobs said: “Work had to be completely stopped and replanned to minimise disruption and delays at peak times, but has subsequently meant that works have taken longer overall.

“Work on the roundabout is now substantially complete and the new pedestrian crossings are usable, however traffic signals are still to be installed.”

Chris Heney, development director at Persimmon Homes South East, said: “We are pleased to report that the work is planned for completion by the end of this month.”

Jacobs is also trying to ensure repairs to Templer Way are carried out as the road has been deteriorating badly.

The company is now trying to reach an agreement with Kent Highway Services and get them to fund some of the repairs, which it says will save money and time in the long run by making use of the workers and machinery already on site.

uE06E What do you think of the delays? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, TN24 8RJ or email kentishexpress@ thekmgroup.co.uk