A bus lane leading from a busy business estate is to be opened to traffic after years of calls for drivers to be allowed to use it.

But the measure on the Medway City Estate in Strood will only be temporary while roadworks are carried out to install a new slip road.

The bus lane runs from Commissioner's Road to Canal Road and is also open to taxis.

People who work on the estate and who have been campaigning for ways to reduce congestion at peak times have been calling for the route to be opened up since 2014, to help the flow of traffic.

At its worst, some motorists were getting stuck for two or three hours trying to exit the estate, where more than 6,000 people were employed before the pandemic.

The new slip road will be on the Anthony's Way roundabout where it meets the A289 and Medway Tunnel and aims to ease the almost daily traffic jams.

Construction began in September last year and is expected to be finished by February.

Medway Council say the bus lane is "likely to remain available until roadworks have been completed".

The route will only be open one way - from Commissioner's Road to Canal Road - for use by all vehicles up to 18 tons.

A council statement says: "There will be no access for east-bound vehicles from Strood.

"There is new signs and barriers in place at the start of the no entry restriction to the north of The Boat House pub.

"Buses have been diverted on to an alternative route, and the bus stops along this route will be temporarily closed.

"Road markings and signs have been amended to inform drivers of the new layout."