Motorists are breathing a sigh of relief as 10 months of roadworks at Faversham’s busiest junction have finally come to an end.

Permanent traffic lights at the convergence of the A2 and A251 are now at last in operation, with no more major work scheduled to take place.

In what seemed like a never-ending project, contractors had been on-site for most of the year carrying out the £1.6 million work installing the lights, often causing tailbacks to Ospringe.

Compared to their frustration during previous months of misery, relieved drivers now say the ever-busy junction is a “dream to drive through”.

Yet with the town facing the threat of thousands more homes, only time will tell as to whether the new layout is capable of taking the increased pressure.

Faversham’s county councillor Antony Hook said: “Traffic is now much better than it was during the months of work.

“It was continuously backed up down to Ospringe, but now it’s moving freely with people at normal speed.

“This work really should have been carried out before the hundreds of homes, Aldi and Premier Inn at the Perry Court development started being built.

“That was a mistake from the councils - not looking further down the horizon and seeing that it would result in more traffic.”

As part of the work, two signalised crossings for pedestrians have been installed, along with a third informal crossing without lights.

Trees have been ripped out from the side of the A2 and a footpath has been installed, meaning walkers can now use either side of the major route.

Cllr Hook said: “Having a new path down the other side of the A2 has really made it lot safer for schoolchildren at Abbey.

“And the pedestrian crossings at the junction make everything much safer.

“It was madness how it used to be.

“People used to say to me ‘I want to go down to Aldi but I can’t cross the road at that junction as I don’t want to put my life on the line’.

“For the pedestrian side of things, it’s a whole load better and safer.

“As for the traffic, it’s now much better than it was during the work.

“But I’m not yet sure if it’s better than it was before then.

“Only time will tell.”

A Kent County Council spokesperson said: “New traffic signals began operating on the A251 in Faversham last week as part of the wider junction upgrade.

“As is the case with all highway improvements, officers will monitor the operation while we complete the final stages of footway surfacing and remove facilities used by the workforce.”

KCC approved the A2/A251 junction redevelopment last autumn after considering a number of options.

These included the possibility of installing a roundabout, but the traffic light system was the favoured proposal.nsidering a number of options, including installing a roundabout, but the traffic light system was the favoured proposal.