Motorists are being warned of potential traffic chaos when a road shuts tomorrow for three months.

It was announced in January that a 250-metre stretch of the A228, Frindsbury Hill in Strood will be closed from March 11 to June 21.

The closure is as part of on-going works to build the new Maritime Academy. Work will include widening the carriageway, constructing an entrance to the school, new traffic signals and extensive resurfacing.

The 5.4-mile stretch of road is one of the busiest in the area, but Medway Council said the closure “is needed so the highway works can be completed safely”.

It continued: “A thorough review has been completed to find the most efficient way of managing these essential works.

“Closing the road in this way reduces the programme by four weeks.”

It added it had looked at other measures including two-way traffic signals, full signalisation of the Sans Pareil roundabout, and closing the Strood bound A228 from the same roundabout.

A test of two-way signals was tried for two weeks but this resulted in gridlock at the roundabout and heavy traffic in surrounding areas.

With a full closure imminent, many are fearing huge delays in the area with Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tohurst believing it will cause chaos for residents.

She said: “I am deeply troubled and concerned by what is being proposed.

“This will cause three months of disruption in the busiest part of my constituency. Over recent months residents have faced delays of up to 45 minutes or even an hour getting around town.

“I’m not sure how we will manage in those three months.”

Motorists got a glimpse of the issues the closure would cause last week when the same stretch of road was cordoned off by Southern Water to fix a water leak.

In hopes of alleviating some of the expected chaos, Medway Council has issued a few diversions during the three months.

Traffic will be signalled to Wulfere Way, through Hasted Road, Gravesend Road, London Road, Gun Lane and then back to Frindsbury Road.

Canal Road will be temporarily open as a route from the A2 to the Medway City Estate.

Speed restrictions will also be in place on roads approaching the closure. All other works are said to be deferred or completed before it starts work at Maritime Academy.

The school is set to be open by September 2024 and is said to be providing 1,050 new spaces to students in Medway.