Over £100million pounds is to be spent improving north Kent's countryside, roads and transport over the next two years.

Most of it will be used in Medway.

The A228 will be improved through to Thamesport.

Bus passengers will be provided with more reliable services as buses on Arriva's Main Line routes are given priority at traffic lights, and stops are improved.

The biggest single impact will be £2million of government money spent to improve Medway's Great Lines, turning it into a country park that could turn the area into tourist attraction designated as one of the World's Heritage Sites.

~ See our graphic showing where the money will be allocated >>>

Councils have been waiting for a year to hear whether all their bids for cash to improve the infrastructure of the Thames Gateway in north Kent would be approved.

The announcement was made by the Minister for the Gateway, Margaret Beckett, when she opened the annual two-day Thames Gateway Forum in London's Docklands.

~ Huge Gateway project avoids the bit of the credit crunch >>>

Brian Weddell, Head of Medway Renaissance, said many of the contracts were ready to sign. Work would start very quickly.

Cllr Rodney Chambers, Leader of Medway Council, said there would be disruption when the work began, but it would be worth it in the end.

Days after New Year the next phase of Chatham's central road system will get under way. The demolition of the Sir John Hawkins flyover is an early priority.

Watch the video on the right to hear Sir Terry Farrell, Thames Gateway's Design Champion, speak about what he thinks >>>