Part of the A2 near Sittingbourne is to reopen to cars and light traffic tomorrow after months of disruption.

The normally busy high street in Newington - shut to through traffic during a marathon £1.85 million project to replace three miles of crumbling gas main - is being reopened ahead of schedule by contractors SGN.

But the ban on lorries will remain for at least another week until other works are completed at Key Street.

Cllr Mike Whiting, Kent County Council member for Swale West, warned: "The ban on HGVs in the lanes and through the nearby villages is permanent.

"If anyone sees lorries in the lanes they should report them to police by calling 101 or online. They can only enforce the ban if they know about lorries breaking the law. We must be their eyes and ears."

The road will reopen tomorrow morning and KCC has also resurfaced and relined some sections.

The project was launched after a spate of 20 leaks last year caused so much disruption because of emergency repairs that villagers demanded a final solution.

The latest phase between Bull Lane and Wickham Close began at the beginning of the month. Engineers also moved a gas valve from the middle of the road to the nearby grass verge.

SGN spokesman, Bradley Barlow, said the work needed to go on despite the coronavirus outbreak.

He said: “The safety of our communities and our employees remains our number one priority but we need to continue with our project to upgrade the gas network in Newington.

“This needs to continue now, rather than wait until the pandemic passes, to ensure the community continues to receive a safe and reliable gas supply.”

Cllr Whiting said: "I have asked KCC to write to local transport firms, the Spade Lane Depot and the Newington Business Park to tell then that, while the A2 is open, it is not open to HGVs and that the diversion route remains via the M2."

He said: "There have been lots of issues in Bull Lane, Newington, Breach Lane, Lower Halstow and through Iwade village. I have asked for better signage."

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