Drivers are facing three years of roadworks on the A2 as vital improvements are carried out to cope with a traffic surge of up to 200%.

Highways bosses say the work on the already choked Bean and Ebbsfleet intersections is unavoidable to cope with a huge influx of people and new businesses to the area.

Highways England has revealed one preferred scheme at both junctions and is committed to starting work by 2020 and finishing by 2023.

It said while it will attempt to limit disruption it admitted that was inevitable, describing it as a “huge project”.

It now wants people to have their say on the project, which is part of the Kent Thameside Strategic Transport Programme (STP).

At Ebbsfleet, traffic is forecasted to increase by 170% to 200% during peak periods by 2037 compared with 2014 traffic levels.

At the Bean junction traffic is expected to rise by 50% to 60% in the same time frame.

Planned improvements at Bean include adding an additional bridge over the A2, providing a new slip road onto the A2, and enlarging the roundabout; while at Ebbsfleet both roundabouts are set to be enlarged and traffic lights will be installed.

Project manager Hugh Coakley said the roadworks would inevitably cause some disruption to traffic but that this would be kept to a minimum.

He said: “We’re asking people to comment as we want to hear their views on details of the proposal.

“It’s a chance to influence the proposal. We’re in the very early stages of the scheme and we’ve come up with a proposal that we think works.

“But there have been no decisions made – we need people to comment.”

Mr Coakley said anybody who regularly used the Bean junction knew they could already expect delays at peak times.

“We’re asking people to comment as we want to hear their views on details of the proposal" - Highways England project manager Hugh Coakley

“If we leave it as it is we know there will be a huge increase in traffic and traffic jams,” he added.

“During construction we will do everything we can to minimise disruption.

"We’ll try to leave the same number of lanes available. Where we possibly can, we’ll be thinking about night-time working.”

He said contractors will work to an “environmental management plan” to restrict dust and dirt, but added: “There’s bound to be disruption. It’s a huge project but we will be doing everything we can to minimise disruption.”

Highways England hopes to confirm the scheme later this year.

However, motorists will be fearing the worst as traffic on the A2 in that area is already regularly congested at peak times.

Information is available on www.highways.gov.uk/a2be, and consultation events are due to be held at Bean Youth and Community Centre from noon to 5pm on Saturday, January 28, and at Eastgate in Springhead Parkway, Gravesend, from noon to 5pm on Saturday, January 28; 1pm to 8pm on Wednesday, February 1, and 1pm to 8pm on Monday, February 20.