Flyover works at Stockbury roundabout near Sittingbourne on the M2 junction 5 interchange are continuing over the Christmas break as engineers prepare for main construction to begin in the new year.

National Highways said it was using the holiday period to carry out work "away from the road network" although it promised no "major or disruptive construction" will take place until Tuesday, January 4.

After that, there will be a week of night-time and two weekend road closures on the A249 and at Oad Street to finish moving utility services before the main construction work begins.

The three road closures for January are:

Closure One: Weekend closure from 10pm Friday, January 21, to 5am, Monday, January 24 for the Sheppey-bound carriageway of the A249 on the Maidstone side between Rumstead Lane and the roundabout. There will be no access to the A249 via Church Hill from Stockbury as it will be closed from the Honeycrock Hill intersection. Signed diversions will be via the M20, A229 and M2 and are estimated to add 25 minutes to journey times.

Closure Two: Night closures from 8pm to 5am of Oad Street between the A249 and Pett Lane from Monday, January 24 to Friday, January 28. To access Oad Street during the closure, use the Stockbury roundabout to join the Maidstone Road, continue to the Key Street roundabout where you will take the fifth exit onto the A2 eastbound, turn right onto Wise Lane at which point you can access Oad Street from this road. To leave Oad Street, follow the diversion in reverse.

Closure Three: Weekend closure from 10pm Friday, January 28 to 5am Monday, January 31 of the Sheppey-bound carriageway of the A249 between Stockbury roundabout and Key Street roundabout. Diversions will be along the Maidstone Road (which runs parallel to the A249) to Key Street roundabout.

Main construction work will then begin in earnest and is expected to continue until the winter of 2024.

The £92million upgrade was given the green light in June by the Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps following a public inquiry.

It will feature a new flyover over the top of the existing roundabout to provide non-stop movement between Maidstone, Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

Work on clearing the site of trees and vegetation started in October.

Motorists can sign up for updates, call 0300 123 5000, email m2j5@highwaysengland.co.uk or visit this link.