A main route into a town centre is set to partially reopen after a gas leak was discovered.

The A26 Tonbridge Road in Maidstone has been closed for more than two weeks for emergency repairs on old pipes.

The road was initially shut on Thursday, February 29, for emergency gas works to be carried out by SGN, and is set to reopen for eastbound traffic tomorrow.

Throughout the past two weeks, engineers have been spotted repairing the pipes, with the road closed in both directions between Terrace Road and Milton Street.

Currently, a signed diversion takes motorists via Hermitage Lane, A20 London Road, A20 Rocky Hill and A26 Tonbridge Road and vice versa.

Last Thursday (March 14), county council member Chris Passmore (Lib), for Maidstone Central, posted a Facebook update on the works, including pictures of the progress.

“The emergency gas repair in the Tonbridge Road by Bower Place is taking longer than anticipated,” he said.

“This is due to the age of the pipework which was laid over 100 years ago.

“The engineers have repaired multiple leaks, and work is continuing to monitor gas readings to ensure that all leaks have been found and fixed before it is safe to re-open the road.”

Mr Passmore explained how the joints of the 10-inch cast iron gas main, which was installed in 1902, would need to be individually replaced and resealed.

He said: “The problem is that the hemp, which is a natural fibre used to seal the joints between each length of pipe in 1902, was originally kept moist and swollen by the ‘wetter’ town gas made from coal.

“This gas was replaced by the ‘drier’ North Sea gas in the 1970s and this has over time has led to the hemp 'drying out', reducing the effectiveness of the seal and allowing the gas to start to leak, which is extremely dangerous.”

The emergency closure has caused scheduled SGN works for Farleigh Lane and Glebe Lane to be delayed.

Both roads have been used as a diversion route by residents. It is not yet known when the works will go ahead.

A spokesman from SGN has now confirmed Tonbridge Road will partially reopen tomorrow.

He said: “It will be open eastbound from Tuesday, March 19.

“We’re continuing to make repairs at the junction of Westree Road which means westbound traffic will continue to be diverted via the A20.

“We hope to be able to fully reopen the road next week.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience this ongoing work may cause and thanks to the Maidstone community for your patience and support while we work urgently to repair the gas network.”

From tomorrow, motorists will be able to travel into the town centre and join the one-way system.

Those on the other side of town hoping to get to Maidstone Hospital will still need to go via London Road and along Hermitage Lane.