Roadworks to create a new slip road at a busy junction are yet to be completed - despite a promise they would be finished last week.

When work began on the A289, at the exit to the Medway City Estate, the project was originally scheduled to come to an end in February.

But the completion was put back until "spring" with no exact date comfirmed until April 1 when it was announced the roadworks would end on Thursday last week ahead of the Easter weekend.

A Medway Council statement at the time said: "We’re working with the contractor to deliver the final works as efficiently as possible, while trying to ensure minimum additional disruption to motorists. The final works are scheduled to be completed on Thursday, April 14.

"All traffic management (including that currently in place through the Medway Tunnel) will be removed in time for Easter (by Friday, 15 April)."

But motorists arriving at work this morning expecting to see the new slip road open were disappointed to find it was still not finished.

The lane restrictions, reduced speed limit and cones through the Medway Tunnel have been removed but the slip road remains coned off.

This could mean a temporary return of queues getting off the Medway City Estate as the tunnel is now back to two lanes and 50mph before the new slip road has opened.

Medway Council has apologised for the delay and said the slip road will be open "in the coming days".

The bypass is designed to help the flow of traffic leaving the business estate by McDonald's where drivers often experience long delays. It will allow drivers heading towards the M2 to avoid the roundabout and directly join Berwick Way from Anthony's Way.

The business estate in Strood has been blighted by traffic jams for many years. At its worst, motorists were queuing for up to three hours just to travel one mile during the evening rush hour.

In 2018 the council consulted with businesses on the estate to get their views on what further measures could be put in place to help ease congestion.

Medway Council secured £1.7million from the government’s Local Growth Fund (LGF), through the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), to create the slip road

Jackson Civil Engineering has been carrying out the works which began in September last year.

Last summer, it was confirmed the works would cost £518,000 more than first expected due to difficulties sourcing materials and rising costs as a result of demands for projects during the pandemic.

And then in March this year, it was revealed the costs had risen to £2.6 million. The extra £353,000 needed was due to "increased materials costs and third-party delays".

Council leader Cllr Alan Jarrett said during a council meeting last month it had been a "difficult project", adding: "The old saying 'you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs' is absolutely true.

"It's quite self-evident that if you carry out a major reconfiguration of a road scheme, there will be consequences, there will be traffic delays, there will be traffic hold ups, but the prize is what we must focus on and that project is now coming to fruition and will help connectivity going to and from Medway City Estate."

Michael Edwards, Medway Council’s head of transport and parking, said on Monday: “We have removed all of the lane closures and temporary traffic lights through the Medway Tunnel and Berwick Way which has improved congestion in the area.

"In the coming days we will be opening access to the new slip road. We are committed to doing everything we can to help improve journey times for people who work on Medway City Estate.

"The new slip road is designed to further alleviate congestion on the estate at peak times and help improve journey times for the people who work there.

“We apologise for any inconvenience the works may have caused and we would like to thank motorists for their continued patience.”