A full closure of the M2 will not take place this weekend, highways bosses have confirmed.

The 12-mile stretch between Junction 5 for Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Maidstone, and Junction 7 at Brenley Corner, near Faversham, was scheduled to close in both directions from tonight.

But National Highways says work will not take place this weekend.

Instead, the first of six full weekend closures will take place later in the month.

Drivers were bracing themselves for two days of traffic misery due to the combination with Operation Brock woes.

Bridge repair work on the M2 will instead begin on another weekend in May.

When enforced, the motorway will be shut from Brenley Corner, all the way to Sittingbourne in both directions from 8pm on Friday until 6am the following Monday.

Work will restart over the following two weekends, with the M2 closures again in force.

Contractors are then due to return in July for another three weekends of consecutive work, starting from Friday, July 1.

Drivers will be diverted via the A2, A20, M20 and A249 in either direction.

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