WORK to build Sheppey’s second link to mainland Kent is due to start on March 1 next year, the Highways Agency has announced.

Carillion Private Finance is the Government’s provisional preferred bidder for the project which will include the A249 bypass to Queenborough.

The agency said the contract for the project will be awarded in November this year, with the road and its fixed link bridge open to traffic on March 31 2006.

Final construction work is expected to finish on July 1 2006.