The first phase of work to repair a 64-year-old bridge is set to get underway which will involve four sets of closures and rail disruption.

Kingsferry Bridge, which connects the Isle of Sheppey with the mainland, will shut so that 40 steel ropes that lift the bridge can be replaced.

Built by British Rail in 1960 the bridge is used by motorists and pedestrians to travel to the rest of the county and is the only route trains can use to get across The Swale.

The ropes were last replaced almost 30 years ago and are now coming to the end of their operational life.

Recent tests have found some of the ropes, which were installed in 1995, have degraded and urgently need replacing.

Network Rail is carrying out the maintenance works and will close the bridge to drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and maritime traffic from 10pm on Friday, June 7.

The bridge will reopen at 5am on Monday, June 10.

It is the first of a series of closures over the next two months.

The next set of closures will last for nine days from Friday, June 28 to Sunday, July 7.

Further closures will take place from Friday, July 12 until Monday, July 15.

Another nine-day closure will take place from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 28.

All closures will start at 10pm on the first day and finish at 5am on the last.

The last trains will depart the Island at about midnight on Fridays when it shuts. First trains will run from approximately 5.43am on the days when the bridge reopens.

During the closures, a regular rail replacement bus service will run between Sheerness, Queenborough, Kemsley and Sittingbourne stations.

Swale station will not be stopped at by these buses because of the lengthy diversion routes to visit the station.

Traffic management will be in place between the times when the bridge is closed.

A single lane of the bridge will be open and controlled by traffic lights.

These measures will be in place from 9.30am on Wednesday, June 5 until Wednesday, June 12 and then from Monday, June 24 through to Friday, August 2.

Network Rail says it cannot wait for roadworks, such as the Grovehurst Junction Improvements, to be completed.

It said: “While regular testing of the ropes ensures bridge users are kept safe, if the rope’s condition worsens it could result in an unplanned closure and cause significant disruption to bridge users for an extended length of time until repairs can be made.

“To reduce the risk of a sudden closure and take advantage of favourable summer weather and tides [work is being done now].

“By doing the work in summer the risk of Sheppey Crossing, the alternative route to the island, closing due to high winds is also significantly reduced.

“Staggering the repairs not only reduces the impact on local communities, allowing them to plan around the closures but also on vital maritime traffic which contributes billions of pounds to the national economy.”