It may be the bane of Kent motorists' lives... but the M2 is marking a golden anniversary.

It's exactly 50 years ago since one of Kent's key motorways was opened as a route for traffic heading through to Dover and to clear congestion through the Medway towns.

These days, around 75,000 vehicles use it every day.

Jon Griffiths, Highways Agency regional director for the South East, said: “Maintaining safe and reliable journeys is key for us and over the years a lot of work has gone into this key 25-mile road, including widening projects and routine maintenance such as bridge joint replacement carried out last year on the Stockbury viaduct.”

The M2 was originally built with two lanes plus a hard shoulder in each direction, and was officially opened by Rt. Hon. Ernest Marples MP, Minister of Transport, on May 29 1963.

It is the only motorway in England that doesn't meet any other motorway at a junction.

The Stockbury viaduct, at junction 5 near Sittingbourne, refurbished as part of a £470,000 scheme in autumn last year.

Now, sections of the road have been widened to four lanes, with