The Medway Tunnel has reopened following two days of closures due to an 'issue with the tunnel's operating systems'.

The closure of the route, which links Chatham to Strood, caused huge disruption throughout the Towns on Friday.

Medway Council had announced the closure at 6am yesterday and confirmed at 1.30pm that it would be shut until at least the end of the day.

This morning, Medway Council warned the tunnel would remain closed today - but an update this afternoon confirmed it had reopened.

A council spokesman said: "We are pleased to confirm that the Medway Tunnel has just reopened.

"Thanks to everyone for your patience and apologies again for the inconvenience."

Earlier this morning, they had said: "We have had a technical systems failure which has resulted in a loss of critical functions that maintain safety within the tunnel.

"The systems that detect incidents, CCTV coverage, and other functions such as ventilation fans, lighting and pumps are all affected.

"Without this we cannot operate the tunnel safely and have been left with no option but to close it for the time being. Specialist engineers have been on site all night and continue their work today.

"We are very sorry for the inconvenience and are doing all we can to fix this. Please bear with us but your safety must remain our priority.

"Please plan your journeys using alternative routes and leave additional time when travelling across Medway today. We will keep you posted of any development."

Roads were left "gridlocked" throughout yesterday, with simple journeys taking hours, severe disruption to bus services and a knock-on effect on bin collections.

Maintenance work has been taking place in the tunnel, which has seen the route shut overnight, most recently on December 9, which was due to be the last of this quarter's closures.

Arriva tweeted to say its entire Medway bus network was severely disrupted and delayed.

Medway Norse was also unable to complete the brown bins round due to the closure.

Last night, Nu-Venture tweeted: "Our bus services in #Medway remain hugely disrupted due to serious congestion from traffic displaced from the ongoing closure of the Medway Tunnel, for which there is no end in sight.

"So, literally, no light at the end of the Tunnel."

The alternative route is to divert through Rochester but that has left many roads gridlocked.

One motorist reported that it took them more than an hour to get their children to school, when it is usually a 15-minute journey.

"Absolute chaos @medway_council come on please, get your finger out, and at least give hourly updates..."

Another resident said: "Unless the ceiling has caved in, what possible technical issue could there be?

"Frindsbury Road is shut both ways, constant roadworks all over Medway, ALL of the time.

"Isn’t it about time the local authority put some of their revenue into more 'permanent' solutions to what is appearing to be 'constant' problems, in the same areas? Just a thought."

There have been increasing calls for clarity over the issue.

A tweet by beckygander said: "What’s happening with the tunnel? No explanation, lots of delays & no update? You are affecting small business in the Medway estate? Any answer to this?"

Another tweet said: "The Medway Towns are gridlocked. Absolute chaos @medway_council come on please, get your finger out, and at least give hourly updates. And chase the contractors who are responsible. Who are they btw??"

Harry2671 posted: "@medway_council have caused gridlock in Medway towns by shutting the tunnel, but none of us are grown up enough to be told why? #farce #joke."

Jeff Miller, owner of two businesses on the Medway City Estate, Emblem Workwear and Francombs Sandwiches and Salads, said the closure had impacted trade.

"It's been really quiet today." he said.

"People didn't want to be stuck in traffic to get here.

"The decision to shut it – which causes misery for everyone on a Friday – would not have been taken lightly."

He added: "It took me about two hours to get in this morning. It's usually 10 minutes. For some of my staff who live in Rochester it would have been quicker to walk."

One driver took to social media to say they spent "half the day on the road" thanks to the closure.

The tunnel – used by 50,000 drivers per day before the pandemic – costs Medway taxpayers £415,000-a-year and various ideas have been considered to help pay for it.

The council bought it for £1 in 2009.

In November 2020, it was suggested cash contributed by housing developers could be used to prop up funding repairs for the route.