More traffic misery will be piled on motorists this weekend when the M2 shuts for a third time between Junction 7 for Brenley Corner and Junction 5 for Sittingbourne.

A 58-hour closure - to enable bridge repair works on the motorway - will be in place London-bound from 8pm on Friday until 6am on Monday.

It comes after two full weekend closures of the same 12-mile stretch on the coastbound side in May.

However, earlier today, it was revealed another road closure in the area predicted to cause weekend chaos had now been cancelled.

The A249 was set to be shut for two weekends longer than scheduled, but National Highways confirmed the proposed closure, which was due to happen from 8pm on Friday, July 1, until 5am Monday, July 4, were cancelled due to the stretch of the motorway being shut.

As a result of the work on the M2, bridges are to be resurfaced and waterproofed and new expansion joints will be installed.

Motorists will be sent on a 72-mile diversion around east and central Kent.

They are to be directed down the A2 past Canterbury to Dover, then along the A20 and onto the M20.

They will be met with the 50mph speed restriction between Ashford and Maidstone, before joining the A249 Detling Hill and then the M2 at Junction 5.

Another closure will be enforced in a fortnight’s time, with the London-bound stretch shut from 8pm on Friday, July 15, to 6am on Monday, July 18.