Work on a £5m roundabout revamp, which includes scrapping the traffic lights and increasing capacity by up to 60%, will start next month.

Kent County Council (KCC) said the improvement scheme at the A20 Coldharbour Roundabout, just off the M20 in Maidstone, can start now as a contractor, Breheny Civil Engineering, has been appointed.

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KCC says the project, paid for through the government's Local Growth Fund and developer contributions, will see the junction enlarged to allow three lanes to go around the roundabout and additional lanes provided on the approaches.

Give way lines will replace the traffic lights at the entry points to the roundabout.

KCC’s cabinet member for highways and transport, Neil Baker said: “This is another prime example of where we are delivering infrastructure first.

“This project is expected to improve capacity of the Coldharbour Roundabout by 60% in the morning peak period and 40% during the evening, making for smoother journeys for local people and helping to keep Kent moving.”

Work is set to start on February 12 and due to be completed by mid-December 2024.

A KCC statement said: "For the initial phases of the works, daytime off-peak lane closures will be needed from 9.30am to 3.30pm so site teams can carry out surveys and install an access to the site compound from February 12 for up to four weeks.

"Additional works will take place on the existing roundabout island and be completed at night when lane closures will be put in place between 7pm and 6am.

"Future traffic management will be completed during similar off-peak times to minimise disruption as much as possible."

Changes to the Coldharbour Roundabout have been in the pipeline since 2019.

They were consulted on as part of the Keep Maidstone Moving scheme, designed to reduce congestion, travel times and pollution in the County Town.

Previously, Lib Dem councillors spoke out against the plans as they believed the potential benefits would be totally undone by the removal of the traffic lights.

They said the changes would “bring gridlock”.