Complications to a major multi-million pound new slip road to ease congestion from an industrial estate means works will not be finished this month as originally expected.

Signs at the exit to the Medway City Estate put out since work began in September said work would be complete in February after a six-month construction.

But with the month drawing to a close, Medway Council says works "are due to be completed in the spring".

Asked what had caused the delay beyond February, the authority said there had been issues during construction to resolve "complex issues" to divert utilities with service providers.

These works are now taking place and can be completed as part of the £2 million scheme at the Anthony's Way roundabout.

The council also cited traffic management restrictions put in place to protect works and attempt to balance delays for motorists had "placed limitations on the pace of the works"

The major junction upgrade which will see the slip road from the estate link up with Berwick Way on the A289 towards Wainscott is aimed at easing queues leaving the area at busy times.

Heavy traffic can mean on some evenings it takes an hour to clear the estate.

Last August, just weeks before the planned start date, it was confirmed the works would cost £500,000 more than first expected due to difficulties sourcing materials and rising costs as a result of demands for projects during the pandemic.

The council received £1.7m in funding from the government's Local Growth Fund through the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP).

Speaking about the latest stage of the project, Michael Edwards, the council's head of transport and parking, said: "Works to create the new slip road on Medway City Estate, to help improve journey times for the people who work there, is due to be completed in the spring.

"Work on the new slip road is progressing and our contractor has built a new retaining wall and is currently carrying out works to divert utilities and install drainage in preparation for the new road structure.

"New kerbs are also being installed and preparation works for upgrades to the street lighting and signalised pedestrian crossing is also underway.

“We apologise for any inconvenience the works may cause and we would like to thank motorists for their continued patience.”

Last week, a lane closure on the opposite side of Berwick Way approaching the Medway Tunnel for pedestrian crossing works led to enormous delays with some drivers sat in jams for about two hours from the M2.

The Medway Tunnel heading towards the estate and Strood has been reduced to one lane ever since the start of works on September 13 and has been causing daily traffic congestion.

The Medway City Estate is home to hundreds of businesses which employ an estimated 6,000 people.