THE end of work on the much-criticised, delayed and massively over budget A13 widening project has slipped back to February next year - and Thurrock Council continues to remain tightlipped about how much it will all eventually cost.

A meeting of the council's transport overview and scrutiny committee will get an update on the project when they meet on Tuesday, 7 December. They will be told it is now anticipated that the three 'mainline' carriageways in either direction will be completed by the end of February.

As recently as last July councillors were being told the work would be done by the end of December.

Then, in September the same committee was told the work would run until 'at least January' .

The latest report, which has been prepared by the current interim assistant director for regeneration and place delivery Keith Rumsey, does specify that there are to be fewer road closures in coming weeks as the project draws to the close - though the council has never responded to repeated questions from Nub News about the number of closures - which have massively burst through initial predictions of just 12.

Mr Rumsey, who appears to have replaced interim assistant director for regeneration and place delivery Colin Black, who prepared September's report, says in the remaining weeks of 2021, there will be one A13 mainline weekend closure and two Orsett Roundabout weekend closures.

In 2022, one weekend closure of the A13 mainline between Orsett and Stanford-le-Hope, is planned, as is one Orsett Roundabout weekend closure and one A13 mainline Tilbury to Orsett weekend closure.

The council adds: "Additional overnight closures and lane closures will be utilised where possible to minimise the amount of weekend works."

What councillors are not being told is what it will all cost and what the eventual final overspend will be. In mid 2020 the council reported that the costs had ballooned from £79 million to the then latest estimate of £114.67 million. Since then the council has declined to comment or give updated figures to the media and to councillors.

The authority has paid hundreds of thousands in consultancy fees to engineering consultants Aecom and Mace – as well millions to main contractors Kier. In the upcoming report the council says: "The team worked closely with Aecom and Kier during the first six months of 2021 to produce, agree and sign a Deed of Variation and a Settlement Agreement.

"The agreement encompasses all of the risks and outstanding Compensation Events up until the end of 2020 (including Covid in 2020) and provided a revised Target Cost for the scheme.

"The agreement is hugely beneficial for the Council as it reduces risk and uncertainty and provides more programme and cost certainty. The forecast final cost position of the project remains under review."

In October Labour members on the transport scrutiny committee tried to get a local government peer review into the whole project, which they described as a 'fiasco' but Conservative members voted the idea down.

The report lists work that still needs to take place. It says:

• The A13 mainline is now ready for final low noise road surfacing and white lining in some locations.
• At Orsett Roundabout, kerbing works, intermediate surfacing, sign pole installation and lighting works progressing well.
• Additional electronic message signs deployed in Chadwell St Mary and at the A127/A128 junction to influence driver behaviour and reduce impact on local towns.
• Environmental barrier post installation progressing well across site.
• Ongoing discussions with adjacent landowners regarding the completion of accommodation works and land handback.