Plans for months-long roadworks and a contraflow traffic system on a major Kent route have been pushed back after workers discovered a “safety hazard”.

Maintenance was due to begin today on the A299 Thanet Way between Whitstable and Herne Bay, to install new lights in the Chestfield Tunnel.

But highway bosses have said the start of the works will now be delayed until Wednesday after a passing vehicle dislodged covers in the road surface.

A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson said: “When setting up the contraflow, staff identified an issue with some covers at the crossing point that had become dislodged when being passed by a vehicle.

“If left unattended this could create a safety hazard for vehicles when entering and exiting the contraflow system.

“Our highway maintenance colleagues are on site working to fix this unforeseeable fault and hope to have the contraflow operational by Wednesday, April 27.”

County council chiefs say the existing lighting system in the Chestfield Tunnel needs to be replaced as it uses fluorescent lamps, which will no longer be available after August.

The work is due to be completed by the end of June, with an eastbound contraflow beginning on April 24 and a westbound contraflow put in place on May 30 while it was carried out.

Two complete overnight closures - each over two nights - will also be required.

KCC had planned to carry out deep carriageway reconstruction repairs at the same time as the tunnel works, but these will be rescheduled for a date to be confirmed.

The project is intended to strengthen the subsoil below the road, which has expanded and contracted due to fluctuating temperatures.

While the tunnel works have been slightly delayed, motorists are already experiencing delays as a stretch of the dual-carriageway has been reduced to one lane on both sides, with lower speed limits in place.