Frustrated drivers face four more years of roadworks in Southend as two key junction improvements will not be finished until 2019.

Southend Council has released a timetable for works on the Kent Elms and Bell junctions on the problematic A127, with the former finished by 2016, but the latter not completed until 2019.

The junctions will be improved with £10million of Government money. The timetable of works is: 
 - 2015/16 – preparatory works, including taking out the footbridge and creating a single crossing at Kent Elms
- 2016/17 – Construction and completion of the works
- 2017/18 – First slice of cash for the Bell Junction to do preparatory works 
- 2018/19 – construction and completion of the works Senior councillors say the delay is because the money is released in stages from Whitehall.

The Echo has recently highlighted ongoing problems on the A127 which leave motorists facing hours of delays for even the most minor accidents.

Martin Terry, Southend councillor responsible for transport, said: “I have sympathy for drivers because it won’t be completed until 2019.

"The A127 as it is, is a bottleneck.

“The road is a major threat to the economic development of Southend. We want the town to thrive, and by improving the road it will help regeneration and the local economy.

“The A127 unfortunately, we can’t widen it all, so we have to improve key junctions.”

For Kent Elms, work could start this year and the final completed package of works would include adding in an extra fourth lane on the approach to the junction on the A127, while feeder turns right and left will be extended to help traffic flow.

The same would be done for the Bell Junction improvements, which will cost £5million.

Bridges in both locations, which are used by around 40,000 cars a day, would be dismantled in favour of surface crossings which will be timed with the existing traffic lights to not hold up traffic.

Alfred Milner, who runs South East Essex Topsoil, off the A127 at Prince Avenue, said: “My drivers use the A127 for deliveries and something needs to be done sooner with these junctions. They should make them roundabouts instead of junctions as people just speed.
 

Echo:
New Tesco roundabout comes in for criticism

The new layout of the Tesco roundabout has come under fire from motorists.

Despite the roundabout being completed on time without any major hitches, Southend Council has come under fire for the finished product.

Motorists claim that on approach to the roundabout, from Rayleigh, the second lane is marked for the Tesco superstore only, but then ten yards later a “straight on”

arrow is painted on, leading to confusion for drivers.

John Budge, secretary of the Shoebury Residents’ Association, said: “Our members have been saying that as a result of these markings there have been several near misses of vehicles trying to continue down the A127 where the three lanes merge to two due to people having to change lanes unexpectedly at the last minute.

“A simple solution would seem to be to mark out the second lane for access only to Tesco.”

Alfred Milner, who runs South East Essex Topsoil, off the A127 at Prince Avenue, said the right feeder turn to Prince Avenue, despite being lengthened, still poses problems.

He said: “They’ve made it longer, but I came down here last week and the traffic build- up on the fast lane towards Southend was worse than ever.”

Independent Martin Terry, who is councillor responsible for transport, said officers were continually monitoring the new layout, and will look to change paintings and signage if necessary.

The A127 in Southend in numbers

- Progress Road to Kent Elms – 40,700 vehicles a day (45,200 a day by 2036) 
- Kent Elms to Tesco roundabout – 40,100 vehicles a day (49,700 a day by 2036)
- Tesco roundabout to the Bell – 40,200 vehicles a day (55,700 by 2036)
- The Bell to Cuckoo Corner – 32,700 vehicles a day (49,700 by 2036)