Motorists are to face five further months of disruption around Faversham as contractors install traffic lights at the town's busiest junction.

Many believed the current 11-week closure of the A251 would result in the completion of the £1.6 million project at the notorious convergence with the A2 this month.

But highways bosses have today revealed another 22 weeks of work is needed - piling more misery on the town's snarled-up road network.

The first phase of work has been completed this week, yet that was only to remove vegetation, level out the land and divert utilities.

Kent County Council says the next step is to "install all the infrastructure for the traffic signals, widen the carriageway on the A2 at the A251 junction and construct the new southern footway".

That work is set conclude almost half a year down the line in November.

A glimmer of good news for motorists is that the 420-metre stretch of the A251 between the fire station and Aldi is to reopen on Saturday, June 19.

A temporary traffic light system which will "mimic the new permanent layout" is to be in operation for the 22 weeks after June 19.

Contractors will be on site between 8am and 3.30pm each day.

Once the junction's lights are at last installed, road resurfacing works will then take place across eight nights in November.

Several rural roads in Faversham will remain closed to through traffic until the winter to prevent them being used as rat runs while work is carried out

Porters Lane, Plumford Road, Salters Lane and Preston Grove are to all remain shut.

Motorists have been up in arms since Faversham Town Council shared the KCC traffic order on its Facebook page this morning,

Eve Hanley commented: "22 weeks? For a road junction? Explain it to me like I'm a two-year-old. It's totally crazy, who signed off the contract for this thinking that time scale is reasonable."

Sarah Tinsey said: "Absolutely staggered that it’s going to take EIGHT months to install a traffic light junction, how much is this costing?! When everyone who uses the roads knows it won’t actually solve the problem!"

KCC approved the A2/A251 junction redevelopment last autumn after considering a number of options, including installing a roundabout, but the traffic light system was the favoured proposal.

The three sets of signals will include two on the A2 - one set heading eastbound, one set heading westbound - and a third on the A251.

A signalised pedestrian crossing is also to be installed to bolster safety for walkers.

Highways chiefs say the redesign will “improve access to Faversham, alleviating the current constraint on housing and commercial development”.

KCC has been approached for comment and explanation as to why the works are scheduled to take up almost the remainder of the year.

Avoid getting stuck on Kent's roads by keeping up-to-date on all of the latest traffic and travel news here or by following our live blog.

Read more: All the latest news from Faversham