Hated roadworks that have caused long tailbacks for nine months will finally come to an end next week - as another major project looms.

Work to replace the Orbital Park roundabout on A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road in Ashford started in May as engineers began replacing it with a traffic light-controlled junction.

The ‘Bellamy Gurner’ scheme was supposed to be finished in October but the deadline has been pushed back several times.

After months of road closures and congestion, construction is almost complete with National Highways confirming workers are set to finish up next Friday (February 17).

Once finished, it will mean attention can turn to the long-awaited widening of the A28 Chart Road from the roundabout by Matalan to the ‘tank’ roundabout, with work predicted to start next year.

Construction of the £26 million dual carriageway was supposed to start in 2018 after scores of trees were felled in preparation.

But now Kent County Council, which is funding the scheme along with Hodson Developments - the company behind the first phase of the 5,750-home Chilmington Green development - says it has been pushed back until 2024.

Ashford Borough Council’s deputy leader Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con) said: “The A2070 is going to improve the speed in which cars get around the east of Ashford and the timing is good because the next big project is dualling the A28.

“But a planning condition states that can’t be done until 400 homes are occupied at Chilmington Green and at the last count they were in the low 200s.”

Speaking about the changes, Ashford MP Damian Green says he is pleased to see the A2070 works come to an end after more than 20 years in the making.

“We will all be glad to see the back of it,” he added.

“The original idea is almost 20 years old and it was always going to be a major piece of work.

“But what I hope it means is that people in Finberry, and those working in Orbital Park, will have a reasonable road junction to work from.

“One of the big bottlenecks will disappear from our lives altogether.

“Dualling of the A28 has been on the cards for a long time and everyone who uses that knows it will be necessary, and evermore necessary as Chilmington grows.”

As roadworks come to an end in Sevington, businesses on Orbital Park say they can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Paul Overington, manager of City Electrical Factors in Hall Avenue, says the lengthy delays have put customers off visiting businesses on the estate.

“It has been a bit quiet during the days but it’s not too bad now as it’s opening up again bit by bit,” he said.

“When it was right in the midst of it, it was a pain.

“People were just trying not to come onto the estate and getting out was also a mission.

“You couldn’t even go through Newtown because they were also doing roadworks there.

“I think it will be alright once it’s fully open because all the filter lanes will open. We should hopefully see a massive improvement.”

Next door, Daniel Woodward, store manager at Tool Station, is hopeful trade will pick back up.

“Hopefully the works will finish on time,” he said.

“It is definitely getting there but traffic lights are going in so they have got to be programmed correctly for it to work.

“It has got better compared to when the temporary lights were first put in.

“Footfall and revenue has been down throughout the project so hopefully it will pick up again as people will want to come in again now because they know they won’t get stuck in traffic.”

"I’m not sure if the new lights will be any better but we will see..."

But Hassan Refare, owner of Ashford Kent Tyres, says the constant delays and stress from the roadworks forced him to sell his business.

“I can’t afford to pay the people working here with me,” he said.

“The roadworks are the main reason. I will start another business in another location, maybe in Ashford.

“Two weeks ago it took about an hour to drive from Junction 10 towards Junction 9.

“It’s a bit better now but they open and close roads all the time, it always changes.

“I’m not sure if the new lights will be any better but we will see.”