Fed-up drivers are lashing out as towns across Kent fall under "complete gridlock" due to roadworks this week.

From Ashford to Rainham, traffic has become snarled up. Here, we look at what's causing the delays...

Ashford

Motorists have been caught up a triple-whammy of works around Ashford – including a month-long closure of an A-road – with cars queuing "every way you turn".

Southern Water has been working in Kennington Road for almost two months after a void was first found near the William Harvey Hospital.

Temporary traffic lights were installed to allow workers to investigate and repair the damage, but several more voids were found last Thursday, forcing contractors to shut the road.

Workers have also found a large sewer that runs under the road has been damaged, with the repair work expected to take "at least" four weeks.

Meanwhile, six days of lane closures at Drover's Roundabout started on Monday to allow for drainage work.

The restrictions are due to remain in place until Saturday, causing long queues around the notoriously congested junction.

And to add to the delays, work to replace the Orbital Park roundabout on the other side of town is set to drag on until Christmas, with drivers continuing to face lengthy delays on A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road.

One motorist said: "What on earth is happening on our roads? It has taken me 30 minutes to get from the slip road to Drover's Roundabout - which should take about two minutes."

Furious driver Cazza Susan described the situation in the town as "a joke with no planning or common sense".

"You’re unable to have a chance of rerouting," she said.

"They’ve made people’s life an actual misery. There is no need for it or an excuse."

Sarah Bromnick agreed, saying: "It was a blooming nightmare on Tuesday. It took me 40 minutes to get from Kennington to motorway. Madness."

Natalie Bibey added: "Two hours to get from Godinton to The Range! Everyone is blocking the roundabouts because they are getting impatient when their lights change it is carnage! Absolutely appalling."

Another driver, who asked not to be named, said: "It is complete gridlock on almost any major road in the town you can imagine. You're stuffed every way you turn."

A Stagecoach spokesperson said that the delays were so bad that drivers may have to pull over to take their legally mandated breaks.

But Rich Amey, who lives in Kennington Road, said the hole there is "massive, and goes really deep into the ground."

"It's been caused by an old collapsed sewer," he added. "The engineer I chatted with said they have to fill down four to six metres, because of the voids the road wasn't safe. A lorry or bus full of kids could have easily gone down if the road had given way.

"Roadworks are annoying, annoy me intensely when I want to get somewhere, but sometimes they are unavoidable."

In a statement, a spokesperson for East Kent Hospitals Trust, which runs the William Harvey, warned drivers the closure is set to stay in place for a month, adding people need to allow extra time when travelling to the site.

Southern Water says it is "sorry for the inconvenience" and will continue to provide updates as the works progress.

"Unfortunately, the void has become bigger and we are fixing it as fast as we can," a spokesperson said.

"As a preventative measure, we have asked residents in Sandy Lane to move their vehicles to a designated area whilst repairs take place.

"There is also a traffic diversion in place and we are providing regular updates to residents in the area.

"We appreciate this is an inconvenience but would like to thank everyone for their patience whilst we work on this emergency."

A Kent County Council spokesperson added: "We will be requesting the site is worked in such a way in order to expedite the repairs and to enable the road to be opened as soon as it is safe to do so."

Rainham

The A2 is under increasing pressure as people trying to get from Medway to Sittingbourne and Sheppey are using it rather than the M2.

This is because the slip road on the coast-bound motorway to the A249 at Stockbury is closed as part of £92 million Junction 5 revamp works.

Many people are choosing Rainham rather than long diversions to Junction 6 of the M2 at Faversham and down Blue Bell Hill to the M20 and Detling.

As well as the A2, there is another route along Lower Rainham Road which takes people through Upchurch, Lower Halstow and Iwade.

But matters were made worse last night when a burst water main saw this closed off – diverting people back onto the A2.

The town centre was at a standstill with motorists queuing for miles, right back to Bowaters roundabout in Gillingham.

Meanwhile, new roadworks are expected to begin in Berengrave Lane, which connects the A2 with the Lower Rainham Road.

For three weeks, temporary traffic lights will regulate the flow as new broadband infrastructure is installed.

Further to this, there are roadworks on the A2 in Sittingbourne – near the Holiday Inn, slowing traffic through the town.

The Junction 5 slip road is only due to open in January, meaning there is no end in sight for commuters and Rainham residents.

Work is then expected to start on the London-bound slip road, but details on what this will involve are yet to be revealed.

Maidstone

Motorists can expect delays after “nightmare” gas maintenance works have shut three roads and a bridge for a month.

Farleigh Lane, leading to East Farleigh Bridge in Maidstone, has been shut since Monday, September 5 for an SGN mains replacement, and is not due to reopen until October.

Glebe Lane and Rectory Lane are also closing as part of the project.

Commuters that usually drive across the bridge to access Tonbridge Road are now being diverted to Teston Bridge.

Sophia Stevens, who runs Homewood Orchard Garden Centre in Farleigh Lane, said: "We won’t get passing trade for the next few weeks.

“I live in Yalding and at the moment I just avoid Teston completely. There are queues all up the road from the bridge.

“It’s a bit of a nightmare and makes me question whether we should even bother to open.”

Other residents were concerned for patients heading to Maidstone Hospital on Hermitage Lane and also feared for ambulances.

A spokesman from SGN said the work was essential and apologised for the inconvenience.