A multi-million pound road scheme has been opened for traffic but villagers are still not impressed.

The A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet junction improvements have increased their capacity by adding new lanes to the existing roundabouts and slip roads.

National Highways' £112million project has also seen a new bridge built at Bean over the A2 dual carriageway.

The agency's regional delivery director Chris Welby Everard said: "The A2 is a key route connecting people, communities and businesses, including the Bluewater shopping centre, between London and the Kent Thameside area.

"Upgrading it has also provided additional capacity to accommodate the many new developments proposed, while improving journey times and increasing safety, which is good news for the local and regional economy."

The improvements at the Bean junction have broadly followed the existing layout with an additional bridge over the A2 next to the existing one, and a new slip road for eastbound traffic.

The works at Ebbsfleet have also followed the existing layout, with enlarged roundabouts controlled by traffic lights, a widened link road between the roundabouts and a widened east and westbound slip roads.

Roads minister Baroness Vere added: "This scheme will be welcomed by local residents and businesses alike, who will now be able to benefit from the improved journey times and increased capacity from the new junction."

But not everyone agrees, according to assistant secretary of the Bean Residents' Association Ashley Johnson. He said: "I do not think it has made a difference. We are finding it quite difficult to get out.

"The new layout has made it difficult for people from Bean if they are going towards the hospital. You now have to cross three lanes of traffic to get into the right lane from the left.

"We are all a bit grumpy."

A few months ago, villagers slammed the "nightmare" roadworks as living in "hell" and one business owner – who did not wish to be named – on the A296 worried as takings dropped by half.

Speaking now, they said: "It is still not back to normal. It has still knocked my trade quite a lot. I am hoping it will bounce back.

"I think it is mad. I do not know why they have changed all this. I do not think it has been planned out very well."

Despite this, they are hoping the driving trade will return but said they will have "to wait and see".

The upgraded junctions have been supported by the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation which contributed £45m to the project.

Ian Piper, chief executive of the firm said: "The completion of the A2 Junction works at Ebbsfleet and Bluewater is a significant step forward for Ebbsfleet Garden City, providing much needed capacity for both the evolving community within the Garden City and existing communities in the surrounding areas of North Kent.

"We are pleased that our investment and collaboration with National Highways will help meet the needs of the growing number of local residents in North Kent.

"The cycling and walking measures introduced are another example of working in partnership to contribute to Ebbsfleet’s Sustainable Transport Strategy, which will deliver a connected network of facilities for those taking part in active travel and are integral to our commitment to facilitating accessible alternatives to motorised transport.

"National Highways has selected to adopt the Ebbsfleet landscape palette to ensure that any planting will be climate resilient and enrich biodiversity, creating an attractive gateway to the Garden City."

The Bean and Ebbsfleet junctions are on the A2 trunk road and are just over a mile apart. The Bean junction connects the Bluewater shopping centre and the B255 to the A2, while the Ebbsfleet junction connects the A2 with the B259 Southfleet Road.