Motorists can expect eight weeks of disruption starting today as KCC begins works to lessen congestion on one of the key routes into the County Town.

Alterations to Park Way and to Armstrong Road, two roads leading into the A229 Loose Road to the south of town, will be the first phase of work on the "Loose Corridor" scheme.

Park Way will be closed to traffic from its junction with the A229 back to Holtye Crescent, while contractors widen the road and introduce an additional left-turn lane on the Parkway approach.

The road will be closed for a "minimum" of eight weeks.

In addition, the Armstrong Road junction with the A229 will be closed for repeated short periods during the same time span.

Park Way is a popular route for traffic coming from the south of Maidstone to reach Mote Park, the Maidstone Leisure Centre and Maidstone Grammar School and there is sure to be pressure on other roads in the area as drivers seek to find an alternative route.

Similarly, Armstrong Road forms part of the route for traffic coming from Tonbridge Road and the East Farleigh area, wishing to head towards Staplehurst, while avoiding the town centre. They too may find their route frustrated.

The work will include re-locating the existing staggered pedestrian crossing on Loose Road.

KCC has a helpline for queries: call 03000 418181.