Drone footage has revealed the latest progress on the A249’s new flyover.

Aerial photographs of the Stockbury roundabout now show the finished, but unsurfaced, structure that aims to make journeys easier for motorists travelling between Maidstone, Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

Contractors are continuing to work on National Highways’ multimillion-pound scheme – which began three years ago.

The M2 junction 5 project is expected to cost up to £100 million and will improve the sliproads and junction approaches onto the motorway.

This year it entered into its final 12 months of construction.

Currently, the A249 Maidstone-bound is closed from the Stockbury Roundabout to Church Hill, along with the M2 junction 5 London-bound exit slip, until 5am Saturday, March 30.

This is to allow contractors to build the new A249 carriageways to the south of the roundabout.

A National Highways spokesman said: “As we enter our final year of the scheme, we’d like to thank you for your patience while we work to improve M2 junction 5 Stockbury Roundabout to provide a safer junction for everyone.

“The next phase will see us constructing the new A249 carriageways to the south of the roundabout.

“This will include removing the existing road and building up the layers that will form the new carriageway, as well as drainage, construction of the central reservation, and safety barrier improvements.

“As the new road is being built in the same place as the existing carriageway, to safely carry out this work, we needed to close the Maidstone-bound A249 carriageway between the Stockbury Roundabout and Church Hill for five weeks.

“We’ll also need some closures on the northbound carriageway.

“These will be at weekends or overnight to minimise disruption. Sheppey-bound traffic will be moved to the Maidstone-bound carriageway as our work progresses.

“We understand closures are frustrating, but these short term disruptions will benefit road users and the local community for many years to come. Thank you again for your understanding and patience.”

With the M2 London-bound slip and the closed part of the Maidstone-bound A249 set to open in just over two weeks, motorists are being warned to brace themselves for more closures.

Since 8pm on Friday, March 15, there has been a full closure of the Stockbury roundabout exit to the M2 junction 5 London-bound, this is in place until 5am tomorrow (Monday).

A spokesman said: “This is in place why we construct the central reservation between the two parts of the slip.

“We had hoped to complete this without any closures on the entry slip, however this is not possible.

“The dedicated link from the A249 Maidstone-bound (from Sittingbourne) to the M2 London-bound will remain open.”

To join the M2 London-bound from Stockbury roundabout motorists must use the A249 Sheppey-bound to Key Street Roundabout, and join the A249 southbound to use the M2 London-bound dedicated link.

The closure will also be in place throughout next week from 8pm until 5am each night until Friday, March 22.

There will then be another full weekend closure from 8pm, Friday March 22, until 5am on Monday, March 26.

An M2 coastbound exit slip and A249 closure are also scheduled.

From Monday, March 18, the dedicated link between the M2 coastbound and the A249 Sheppey-bound (towards Sittingbourne) will be closed overnight until Friday, March 22 from 8pm to 5am each night.

During the closures, motorists are being asked to use the Stockbury roundabout to join the A249 Sheppey-bound from the M2 coastbound.

On Thursday, March 28, and Friday, March 29, the A249 Sheppey-bound will be shut between the M20 junction 7 and the Stockbury Roundabout overnight between 8pm and 5am each night.

The spokesman added: “Access for residents of the A249, Detling and Stockbury will be maintained from the M20 junction 7 during the closures.

“Please use the M20, A229, M2 and A249. For non-motorway traffic please use the A249, A229, A2 and A249.

“When the road reopens at 5am on Saturday 30 March, both sides of the A249 will be open.”

For more information on the project visit the National Highways website.