Motorists are facing long delays through the Medway Tunnel as work starts on a major junction upgrade to ease congestion on one of the county's biggest industrial estates.

The speed limit on Berwick Way from the junction of A228 to Gillingham Gate Roundabout has been reduced to 30mph for highway improvement works.

KMTV's report on chaos for Medway Estate workers

During the duration of the work, one lane through Berwick Way and Medway Tunnel will be closed. Overnight closures of the westbound carriageway through the tunnel will take place to coincide with scheduled maintenance work.

Junction improvements started today and are set to continue for six months until February next year.

There are currently westbound delays towards the Medway City Estate - with drivers facing 30 minute delays.

One motorist spent nearly an hour and a half on a five mile journey that would normally take 20 minutes.

She said: "I'm furious. It's such a horrible start to the week. This part of Medway has already been incredibly busy and the slip road has been needed for a very long time. But I don't understand why this work couldn't have been done when there was a work from home directive but construction could still go ahead.

"In recent weeks traffic on to the estate has steadily increased and it's going to be a nightmare until the work is done."

It was reported the project to build a new slip road on the edge of the Medway City Estate in Strood is now expected to cost £2 million.

The new slip road on the Anthony's Way roundabout which meets the A289 and Medway Tunnel will aim to crack almost daily traffic jams leaving the estate in the evening rush-hour under plans revealed in 2019.

It would bypass the roundabout by McDonald's taking drivers straight on to Berwick Way heading for Strood, Hoo and the M2 for London and north Kent.

The slip road is the latest stage in works to tackle congestion as part of an overall scheme which will cost £2.8m.

Medway worker talks about traffic chaos

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