The bypass will take traffic away from the village of Lamberhurst

Transport minister David Jamieson will perform the ceremony on the stretch of dual carriageway on the A21, taking traffic around Lamberhurst.

Work began on the 3km road nearly two years ago - it had been due to open in the autumn but bad weather and problems cutting through soil caused delays.

The new road being opened on Wednesday had been planned for 20 years.

The £12m scheme is part of the plans to improve the A21 between Pembury, in Kent, and Hastings, on the Sussex coast.

The contract was awarded to May Gurney in March 2003 and work started within a few months.

Along with the road there are two new roundabouts at each end, the reconstruction of about a kilometre of the A262, a large land bridge at the entrance to Scotney Castle, and a new bridge over the river Teise.

During the construction, engineers came across great crested newts, badgers and dormice.