A hated contraflow system on a busy dual-carriageway is now set to be in place until the end of October.

The scheme was introduced on the A299 Thanet Way at the start of June after safety issues with jet fans forced the closure of the coastbound section of the Chestfield Tunnel.

At the time, Kent County Council (KCC) said the contraflow and a 40mph speed limit would likely be in place for three months while new ventilation equipment was manufactured and installed.

But it was confirmed today the restrictions will be in place until October 31 - with any new fans now not due to be installed until the 2025/26 financial year.

Engineers will instead replace faulty parts of the existing system ahead of the road reopening at the end of next month.

KCC’s cabinet member for transport, Neil Baker, says he shares the frustrations of motorists as he is a daily user of the stretch being Whitstable and Herne Bay.

“As a cabinet member and someone who has to travel from Greenhill along the A299 and back a lot, I want the tunnel to be open as soon as possible, as safely as possible, and ultimately, a reliable system in place to work for the next few decades,” he told KentOnline.

“I am informed by those best placed to know that, subject to the availability of specialists, parts and successful testing of the repaired fans, the tunnel will be fully open and the contraflow removed by the end of October.

“Discussions about a brand new ventilation system and future timescales for that will also need to be considered, but let’s focus on getting the tunnel open for now.”

The coastbound tunnel was shut on June 11 after “critical safety defects” were uncovered with the jet fans inside.

KCC said it had no choice but to close the road and divert motorists using a contraflow as the equipment is “critical to ensuring fire crews can safely evacuate people in the event of a fire in the tunnel and venting away pollution”.

Drivers caught up in daily queues had hoped to see the new fans installed and the stretch fully reopened by the middle of this month, but KCC has extended the closure until the end of October - and says it is now only working on a temporary fix.

“New fans will be delivered when the new ventilation system is designed and procured in the 2025/26 financial year - this is subject to a key decision,” a spokesperson said.

“In the meantime, the existing fans will be repaired with replacements for the faulty parts.

“These parts have been sourced and a specialist contractor will be appointed in the next few weeks to refurbish the fans on-site. After refurbishing the fans, we will test them for safety.

“Specialists will then install the fans and remove the contraflow.

“We expect the works, testing and installation will be completed by the end of October. This is subject to availability of specialists and parts, and successful testing of the repaired fans.”

KCC says the new ventilation system will be for both sides of the tunnel, but says it cannot provide a cost estimate until the design of the equipment is complete.

Its installation will require further closures along the stretch at a later date, and potentially the introduction of another contraflow.

The most recent was installed in June - just two weeks after another was removed following a six-week reconstruction of a section of the coastbound carriageway near Whitstable.

And just last month KCC was forced to close off one lane of the same stretch between Chestfield and Herne Bay so it could resurface an uneven part of the road.

Cllr Baker says he eagerly awaits the end of the misery endured by motorists using the dual-carriageway.

“I will certainly be among the many people delighted to have the disruption to journeys at an end as, through a combination of essential work and emergency work, planned and unexpected, the combined impact of Thanet Way issues has been severe for an extended period,” he said.