A new link road by the A249, which has been built as part of the multi-million-pound Stockbury flyover project, is opening earlier than planned.

On Monday, June 12, a carriageway linking Maidstone Road to Oad Street will open to motorists travelling between Sheppey, Sittingbourne and Maidstone.

Highways England confirmed the new route is opening a week earlier than originally planned.

A spokesman said: “Once the scheme is complete this new carriageway will also link on to Stockbury roundabout.

“It’s been a busy few months on the scheme. For drivers, you will have noticed a few changes to how you approach and leave the Stockbury roundabout.

“On the south side of the roundabout, traffic heading away from Stockbury on the A249 is temporarily using the new carriageway that will form the Oad Street link.

“It is a key part in our finished scheme, this link will allow vehicles from Oad Street and South Green to join the A249 at the Stockbury roundabout in the future, rather than into moving traffic.

“Northbound traffic has been moved to the unused southbound lanes. These changes have allowed us to work safely on the southside flyover.

“You may have seen the amazing progress we’ve made on the flyover already, from the large support structure to the eye-pleasing retaining walls.

“Once complete, these walls will hide the flyover supports to create a nicer-looking structure.”

In mid-June, Highways England is due to complete the next switch that will enable them to start work on the flyover structures to the north of the roundabout.

Southbound traffic travelling towards the Stockbury roundabout on the A249 will be moved onto the new slip road which has been freshly tarmacked.

The spokesman explained: “Traffic using this new slip road will travel over our constructed ‘flexi-arch’ bridge – the largest in England – underneath the M2 flyover.

“To speed up the construction, the sections that make up the bridge were cast away from the site and brought in to be put together like flatpack furniture.

“The new Maidstone Road link has made quick progress and we are pleased to say it will open on Monday ahead of schedule.

“Before the link opens, we’ll be surfacing Oad Street at its new junction with Maidstone Road.”

For more details on the works visit the National Highways’ website.