Two vital parts of the M2 will be closed until next year as part of multi-million pound plans to transform Junction 5.

Drivers are being told to expect four months of disruption as National Highways plans to close the coastbound entry and exit slip roads between the M2 and A249 to complete works on creating new slip roads on and off the motorway.

This means from Monday, September 12, until Friday, January 13, drivers will not be able to access Stockbury roundabout from the M2 coastbound and vice versa.

The highways company has apologised in advance for the impact this will have on drivers between Maidstone and Sittingbourne.

A spokesman said: "We know there’s never a good time to complete this kind of work at a busy junction like this, and we’ve been working closely with the local authorities and emergency services to plan the best way to do this work.

"We understand these closures will cause disruption to journeys, for which we apologise."

Both slips are scheduled to reopen in January where access from the M2 coastbound to the A249, towards Sittingbourne, will temporarily be via Stockbury roundabout until the new slip road opens in Spring next year.

"We understand thsese closure will cause disruption to journeys..."

National Highways added: "We’ll continue to work with the local authorities and emergency services to monitor the impact these closures have on the surrounding roads so we can make any necessary changes."

Additionally, Oad Street, between the A249 and Woodgate Lane, will be closed from Monday, September 5, to Monday, October 10, to finish off widening work started earlier in the year.

A highways spokesman explained: "We’ve reviewed how we complete the remainder of our work and have reduced this closure to five weeks, minimising the impact to drivers and the community.

"Drivers travelling on the A249 northbound from Maidstone will need to cross the Stockbury roundabout, continue north on the A249, use Key Street roundabout, take the exit for the A2, and use Borden Lane to access Oad Street.

"To access the A249 southbound from Oad Street or Pett Lane will need to use the same route in reverse to access the A249 south of Stockbury roundabout. There will be no through access to the A249 from Oad Street or Pett Lane.

"The businesses on Oad Street, such as the café and the butchers, will remain open as usual and can be accessed via these diversions."

Further information on this closure can be found on National Highways website or its Twitter feed.