Just when you thought disruption on the M20 had finally come to an end, another six months of roadworks have been scheduled for England's worst motorway.

From Saturday Highways England will begin to replace a footbridge which collapsed after being struck by a lorry carrying a digger in 2016.

The new phase of disruption comes less than three months after works to convert the 6.5 mile stretch between junction 3 for Borough Green, and junction 5 for Aylesford, into a smart motorway were complete.

Now drivers travelling on the same stretch will once again have to navigate narrow lanes with 50mph limits until January while the bridge is installed.

A drivers' association has accused Highways England of "appalling planning".

Brian MacDowall from the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) said: "Why wasn't the job planned for when the other major works were also in operation? We do not need another delay especially bearing in mind the M2 is going to be up for major repair works during the summer.

"Drivers were relieved when the two years of roadworks were over and now to be greeted by more is appalling planning. It's not good enough for the authority to say the bridge was not ready before, it's their job to plan these things."

One Kent MP who lobbied for the installation of the new crossing to take place at the same time as the smart motorway's construction was Chatham and Aylesford's Tracey Crouch.

The former sports minister previously described Highways bosses’ handling of the projects as “shambolic”.

The original East Street Bridge, between junction 4 and 3 had to be demolished after it was struck by the HGV.

Remarkably no one was killed in the incident, which caused £1.5million of damage.

Alan Austen, the trucker whose lorry brought down the 170-tonne concrete bridge, avoided jail after admitting dangerous driving.

Peter Phillips from Highways England, said the authority has done all it can to minimise disruption.

He said: “Replacing a footbridge is a big piece of work. It requires a lot of preparation in terms of designing the structure and planning the installation, and takes time to construct. We appreciate that roadworks can be disruptive, so we’re doing all we can to keep disruption to a minimum, and we are grateful to people for their patience.”

Work will begin this weekend with two overnight closures between 8pm and 6am on the London-bound carriageway between junctions 4 and 3 on Sunday and Monday.

Lane one on the same side will close from Tuesday at 8pm until the end of January 2021, with a 50mph limit in place at all times.

A full weekend closure is also planned in both directions while the footbridge is installed towards the end of the project.

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