The lane will close on a busy route as the first phase of a multi-million pound road improvement scheme begins.

The £5.8 million upgrades to the Key Street junction in Sittingbourne will start in Sheppey Way on Monday.

The road is the main route for drivers coming from Bobbing to get onto the A249.

Jackson Civil Engineering, which is carrying out the works on behalf of Kent County Council, is shutting one lane so that it can remove the traffic island.

The island is being taken out so that engineers can complete the next phase of work.

The first phase is due to run until April 8.

One lane in both directions will be open during this time so traffic can move through the works.

The Key Street project has already been hit by delays before work has begun.

Construction was meant to start last summer but had to be pushed back due to a dormouse nest being discovered.

In November, the council announced the revised start date for the scheme.

It was supposed to begin on Monday, January 13, however, it was pushed back again due to other road closures in the area for the ongoing Grovehurst Junction Improvement Scheme.

Read More: New bridge installed in £32m road revamp

Key Street is used by more than 7,300 vehicles every day heading in and out of the town towards Sheppey, Maidstone and Medway.

The scheme includes closing the existing A249 Maidstone-bound entry slip lane.

Once completed, motorists will drive down the adjacent Chestnut Street where there will be a new roundabout just before the Tudor Rose pub and a link road to connect to the A249.

The Chestnut Street arm of the Key Street roundabout will be expanded to include an additional lane.

There will also be off-road parallel parking spaces and a new toucan crossing.