The long wait to use a £92 million flyover for the first time after years of work is almost over.

A single lane of the new overpass on the A249 at Stockbury - one in each direction - will open this week.

Work by National Highways to transform the junction, which has long been a congestion and accident blackspot, started in 2021.

The flyover has been added to keep A249 traffic free-flowing and the old roundabout, linking with Junction 5 of the M2, has been extended.

Two new slip roads have been created, one for vehicles heading from the Maidstone-bound A249 to the London-bound M2 and another from the Sheppey-bound A249 to the M2 coastbound.

The junction has one of the highest collision rates in the country and it is predicted the changes will reduce accidents by around a third.

The plans were first unveiled to the public in 2017 and were approved after a public inquiry in June 2021.

One lane, heading Maidstone-bound, will open tomorrow (Thursday). Then a lane in the Sittingbourne-bound direction will be opened on Friday (July 12).

The full opening of all the flyover's lanes is expected at a later date after more overnight work.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey’s former MP, Gordon Henderson, is a long-time supporter of the project.

He had urged people to support the revamp, calling it “vital” for the economic development of the area and described it as a “much-needed project to solve the long-standing problem of congestion on the A249”.

He added: “In addition to that historic congestion, my constituents have had to put up with the necessary major disruption that accompanies any large road improvement project.

“They have done so with little complaint and I am sure they will be as delighted as me to see that the project is on schedule. We can’t wait.”

Cllr James Hunt (Con), who represents The Meads on Swale council, believes "congestion will be a thing of the past" once the flyover is open.

He added: "The whole project is fantastic and it is an amazing achievement that the work has been delivered on time.

"It's been great to watch from when residents lobbied the government to bring the project to see what it is today.

"It's going to make a big difference to both residents and businesses.

"I expect congestion will be a thing of the past."

The project as a whole, including landscaping, is expected to be finished by June next year.

The original completion date was expected to be late 2024.

The latest set of overnight roadworks started on Friday (July 5) and two more night-time closures are to come.

Tonight (Wednesday), the Maidstone-bound A249 will be closed from the Bobbing roundabout to the Stockbury roundabout from 8pm to 5am tomorrow (Thursday).

The diversion route is Sheppey Way, the A2, Hoath Way, M2, A229, M20, and A249.

Then tomorrow (Thursday) the Sittingbourne-bound A249 will be closed between Church Hill and the Stockbury roundabout.

Motorists can divert via the M20, A229 Blue Bell Hill, M2, A249.

There will be closed signs on the A249 at the M20 Junction 7, advising of the diversion.

Drivers on the A249 itself and surrounding villages should join the A249 as normal.

Non-motorway traffic should use Sheppey Way, A2, A229, A249 when the closures are in place.