Road users are dreading a further 20 weeks of traffic gridlock which they say has turned Faversham into a no-go zone.

Contractors are currently digging up a section of the A2 as they install a set of traffic lights at the busy junction with the A251.

The work, which began months ago but has recently moved into a second phase, has caused long delays for motorists heading along the town's main route.

A simple evening journey from Ospringe to Love Lane, which should normally take just a matter of minutes, is now taking drivers up to half-an-hour.

Work installing the lights is set to last until November, and the temporary lights at the A2/A251 junction are set to mimic those which will be permanently set up.

But Kent County Council says the current signals are not yet fully reflective of those to be installed permanently as bad weather has delayed the schedule.

“We are working hard trying to widen the A2 on the west of A251 junction, by the fire station and Abbey School, which will allow the temporary signal head to be moved over giving a longer right turn lane," a spokesman said.

"The bad weather has delayed the excavation to take place for a new kerb line to be built and the road widened. The heavy rain has just slowed everything down significantly.

"It should be noted that until all the “running lanes” have been built the junction will not function as it has been designed.

"This is a particularly difficult part of the build period and please be assured we are working as quickly as possible to make traffic flow better.”

Fed up with the continual traffic problems, Jenny Hart, from the Courtyard Restaurant & Coffee Shop in Brodgale Road, has started a petition which has gained more than 270 signatures.

She is calling for KCC to ditch the traffic light system and instead install a roundabout at the junction.

"It's all having a huge impact and we can't afford for it to carry on like this," she said.

"Since the lights have been erected our business has halved. We were just starting to get back to normal, with Covid but now we've got this.

"It's a nightmare and really quite worrying. No one is a fan of it, and a roundabout at that junction would seem to be much better instead.

"We now only get one or two people coming in for breakfast and then people are put off coming for the rest of the day.

"People are avoiding Faversham.

"It’s having a environmental effect and business impact, and the traffic tailbacks and fumes are at a dangerous level due to the delays."

Once all the work is complete, highways chiefs say the redesign will “improve access to Faversham, alleviating the current constraint on housing and commercial development”.

A signalised pedestrian crossing is also to be installed to bolster safety for walkers.

Rural roads including Porters Lane, Plumford Road and Salters Lane all currently remain closed to through traffic until the winter to prevent them being used as rat-runs while work is carried out.

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