DRIVERS using the A2 at its narrowest section between London and Dover face delays from Monday for the next four months while major improvement works take place.

The aim is to make the conservation area of High Street, Newington, near Sittingbourne, a safer environment for pedestrians and to enhance the centre of the village.

The main bulk of the works are due to start around March 13 but new light columns will be installed from Monday so the electrical connections can be carried out first.

Improvements to be made include work to the pavements in the village centre with some widened to help pedestrians and improve visibility for drivers with built-out kerbs.

There will also be work to resurface the carriageway with a buff-coloured surface instead of red. Existing street lights will be replaced with more decorative columns, current signs upgraded and there will be new pedestrian guard rails and bollards as well as high friction surfacing, new road markings and alterations to the refuge island at the Playstool Road junction.

KCC highways spokeswoman Lisa Whitbread said: "The replacement of the footways can be carried out using temporary traffic lights. To enable works on adjacent and opposite footways, closures will be necessary at certain times for Church Lane and Bull Lane.

"The resurfacing of the carriageway will be one of the last operations to be carried out and will need closure of the High Street over a weekend between 6.30pm on the Saturday to 6am on the Monday. Through traffic will be diverted via the A249, M2 and A278 with signing for local traffic via Lower Halstow and Iwade.

"Exact times of road closures will be advertised on site in advance and all diversion routes will be clearly marked."

Anyone with queries should contact the KCC Highways Services hotline on 08458 247800.