The end is in sight for commuters experiencing long delays on the A256 with road re-instatement works set to begin this week.

Southern Water has today announced its teams will work extended shifts to reopen the southbound carriageway between Ramsgate and Sandwich which has been shut since December, due to a burst sewer.

Teams have already mobilised after surveys showed the crucial ‘geo-grid’ engineering on the embankment was intact and Kent County Council’s Highways Department gave the go ahead for work.

A time frame, however, has not been given.

Southern Water project manager, Jonathan Yates, said: “We’re sorry this has all taken so long and we thank road users for their patience.

“The road is a particularly complex design and KCC had to be absolutely sure that neither the initial burst or our repair work had caused damage to the road structure –the council must always keep public safety as its first priority.”

It's not the only pipe burst in Sandwich teams have been dealing with. A second issue was covered in January on the same sewerage pipe - which serves the entire population of Sandwich - under the River Stour.

The only way to ensure residents can continue to still use their toilet facilities has been to operate a 24-hour lorry tankering system transporting the waste by road.

While A256 words takes place, Southern Water say work will also be start on a replacement pipeline that crosses River Stour.

Original plans for a directional drill under the river have had to be altered due to the discovery of an archaeological artefact, understood to be a medieval boat, beneath where the drilling was to start.

With the cooperation of the tennis club and allotment owners, work will now start on a new site for the drilling on March 2 and is set to take around 10 weeks.

Mr Yates said: “We know the use of tankers in Sandwich is causing upset and disruption and we are sorry. There is no realistic alternative to protect the environment and prevent homes flooding with waste."

Mr Yates has written to customers to provide them with more details.

A weekly drop-in in Sandwich Guildhall foyer will take place on Wednesday, March 11 from 10am until 2pm and every Wednesday until work is complete.

Residents can also keep up to date with progress via southernwater.co.uk or for those without access to the internet there is a poster with the latest news in the Guildhall foyer.

Read more: All the latest news from Sandwich