A section of the new M20 bridge. Picture: Gary Browne

The M20 at Ashford has closed this weekend as sections of the iconic pedestrian footbridge being installed across the motorway are put into place.

Kent County Council have informed residents that the motorway will be closed between junctions 9 and 10 from 6pm on Saturday until 5am on Monday.

The closure will allow cranes to install the central pieces of the £8.1 million pedestrian and cycle bridge which runs from Warren Retail Park to Eureka Leisure Park.

Traffic travelling to and from the ports, and anywhere west of Maidstone, will be diverted to use the A2 and M2 instead, with motorway matrix signs alerting drivers to the diversion.

At Ashford itself all coastbound traffic will have to leave the M20 at junction 9 (Ashford West) and London-bound traffic will have to leave at junction 10 (Ashford East).

London-bound traffic will be unable to join the M20 at Junction 10 and will be directed to use a signed diversion to junction 9 using roads south of Ashford.

Coastbound traffic will be unable to join at junction 9 and will be directed to use a signed diversion to junction 10 using roads north of Ashford.

Local traffic that remains on the M20 will be directed onto signed traffic diversions around Ashford between junctions 9 and 10.

Drivers are being warned to expect journey delays in and around Ashford all weekend.

If the work cannot be completed this weekend, there will be a further closure on Saturday, May 21 until Monday, May 23.

KCC spokesman Phil Scrivener said: “We cannot be sure how many drivers will continue to use the M20 instead of the M2, but overall we expect the amount of daytime traffic on Sunday to be similar to that on a weekday morning rush hour.

“This means that if you are travelling after 6pm Saturday or anytime on Sunday you will need to allow more time for your journey.”

Although it was initially hoped to have nearby Drovers roundabout improvement scheme finished by Spring, KCC said the project would be close to completion by next month.

Mr Scrivener added: “The intention is to have Drovers roundabout substantially complete by early June.

“It is a big traffic signal junction and it will take some time for us to monitor its use and optimise traffic signal operations and timings.”