A well-used route off the A249 will be closed for six weeks as multi-million pound work continues to create a new road layout.

Part of Oad Street, between Woodgate Lane and the A249, near Sittingbourne, is now closed until Sunday, June 5, as part of a huge project to improve the Stockbury roundabout and the M2 Junction 5.

A spokesman for National Highways said: "Oad Street will be closed from April 25, we’ll then reopen it for the summer, before closing it again in the autumn.

"We are widening Oad Street to allow for the new road layout as part of our improvement works.

"To do this safely, we will need a total closure between Whipstakes Farm and Pett Road for an initial period of six weeks."

Traffic will be diverted to the A2 and the A249 Maidstone-bound to join the Stockbury roundabout to access the A249 south of the roundabout.

The roadworks come as preparation work to install a flyover and new slip roads at the roundabout continues.

This will include the permanent closure of the direct slip-road from the A249 to the coastbound M2 – although traffic will still be able to access the coastbound M2 via the first exit on the roundabout.

To close the slip-road, the entire stretch of the Sheppey-bound A249between Junction 7 of the M20 at Detling and Stockbury will be shut overnight on Friday.

A National Highways spokesman said: "Following a slight delay, we’ll now be permanently closing the dedicated entry slip to the M2 eastbound from the A249 northbound from the evening of Friday, April 29 to prepare the area for the new flyover.

"You'll still be able to join the M2 eastbound from the A249 northbound using the first exit of the roundabout.

"So we can safely shut the slip road and repaint the lines on the approach to the roundabout, we’ll be closing the northbound A249 between M20 junction 7 and the Stockbury roundabout overnight from 10pm on April 29, with a diversion in place.

"The northbound A249 will reopen at 5am on Saturday, April 30, but the dedicated slip will remain closed."

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