A public exhibition on the improvement works planned for the A21 has begun.

Plans to widen the road between Tonbridge and Pembury have been in the pipeline for years, with Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark spearheading a campaign for action.

At the exhibition being held today and tomorrow, staff from the Highways Agency will be on hand to answer any questions visitors may have and discuss recent environmental mitigation work.

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Balfour Beatty was announced as the company behind the development in July and has recently dispatched teams to start preparatory, light construction as part of the £69.7 million project.

A 2.5 mile section of the road will be upgraded from single to dual carriageway, adding a lane in each direction, upgrading junctions and improving the overall road layout.

Anne Marie-Palmer, project manager for the Highways Agency, said heavy construction work will begin next Spring.

She added: "Currently there is a 2.5 mile stretch of the A21 that is single carriageway causing a lot of problems with congestion.

"We are modernising it and bringing it up to scratch on each side of it so works will involve making it dual carriageway all of the way through."

Traffic management schemes will be put in place when major construction starts in March next year.

"I understand there is a lot of concern for a lot of people about potential problems the work may cause, but we have no intention to close the a21 apart from emergency circumstances and for one night in order to allow a bridge to be constructed," Miss Marie-Palmer added.

MP Mr Clark is confident about the Highways Agency's progress so far. He said: "It's fantastic to see this scheme happening.

"For years we have been campaigning to have this notorious section turned into dual carriageway, and now not only have we got the plans for it we can see work already started.

"I don't want to pretend there won't be any disruption, a major scheme is going to cause disruption to motorists."

"However, I have been pressing the Highways Agency to make sure it minimises disruption giving plenty of notice to drivers coming through the section as to how long delays will be.

"I will be keeping a close eye on it. I want to make sure it's a success. I have worked very closely with the Highways Agency over recent years and will continue that engagement."

Approval of the scheme was given by the secretary of state following a public inquiry held between May and July 2013.

As part of a recorded investment of £24bn by 2021 by the Government towards road improvements, the dualling aims to make journeys on the A21 safer and more reliable.

Members of the public are invited to the exhibition which will be open at the Mercure Tunbridge Wells Hotel in Pembury between 2pm and 8pm today and 10am and 4pm tomorrow.