Long-standing plans to ease traffic congestion around Maidstone’s notorious gyratory system have taken a step forward - but it could be two years before drivers see the benefits.

County councillors today approved a £5.7m scheme involving the construction of new lanes that road chiefs say could cut average journey times by 10%.

The project, being funded from government grants and the county council, involves building two more northbound lanes on the eastern side of the River Medway.

These will be traffic-light controlled and will enable drivers to avoid the existing gyratory system, which often becomes gridlocked at peak rush-hour times.

The scheme does not require planning permission and does not need any new land. Work is expected to get underway in early 2016 and completed some time in 2017, according to a report.

"This is a great opportunity to improve Maidstone and will ease congestion and speed up journey times..." - Cllr David Brazier

Cllr David Brazier (Con), KCC cabinet member for highways, said it was good news but warned there could be delays while the work was being done.

He also acknowledged there were concerns about the extent to which the scheme was bike and pedestrian friendly.

“We will work very hard to minimise delays while the work is carried out. But this is a great opportunity to improve Maidstone and will ease congestion and speed up journey times.”

Cllr Ian Chittenden, Lib Dem spokesman on transport, said: “This is progress and we are fully supportive. We have some concerns around what needs to be done for pedestrian access. We would like to have a new bridge but in the current climate, that is not going to happen.”

The scheme will also go some way to reducing pollution levels around the town centre. According to Maidstone Council’s Local Plan, traffic levels in the town are expected to increase by some 46% by 2026.

The government is contributing £4.6m to the scheme with Maidstone council contributing £1.1m.