Preparatory work starts this week for construction of Dover Fastrack.

This will involve some shrub and tree clearance ahead of the bird nesting season.

It means that Dover Road in Guston, which is on the new route, will be temporarily closed from today (Monday) during the daytime.

This will be between 7.30am and 5.30pm from the A258 to Old Charlton Road.

That road feeds the entire Burgoyne Heights estate.

A Dover District Council spokesman said: "Access to residential properties will be maintained at all times, including at Burgoyne Heights, and a signed diversion route provided."

The main contractors for Fastrack, Colas Ltd, say the work at Dover Road is expected to finish by Friday and has been timed for the present school half term holiday to minimise disruption.

The shutdown has been split for either side of the road so that access can be maintained at all times.

Meanwhile there will be overnight lane closures on the A2 from 9pm to 5am.

This is between the Whitfield roundabout and the A256 junction.

Colas says the lane closures will only be in one direction of the road or the other.

The tree clearance work is expected to be completed by the night of Friday, February 25, with a couple of nights the following week to move plant and equipment.

Dover Fastrack is a rapid bus transit system connecting Whitfield with Dover town centre and Dover Priory railway station.

It will become Kent's first zero emission bus service with the use of new electric-powered vehicles.

The buses will have priority on a proposed express route.

The project includes a new bus, cycle and pedestrian-only bridge across the A2 at Whitfield and a new link road from the B&Q roundabout in Whitfield to Dover Road at Guston.

The junction with Dover Road will be for buses, bicycles and pedestrians only.

Construction will take 18 months.

Kent County Council is managing delivery of the project on behalf of Dover District Council.

Dover Fastrack is backed by central government with £22.9 million from a funding programme designed to help stimulate new housing development at Whitfield and the former Connaught Barracks site.