ANOTHER weekend of road closures and diversions lies ahead in the east of the borough as Thurrock Council's A13 road widening continues.

With a deadline, recently reconfirmed, of the end of December to complete the works, it appears the number of closures and their continuity is being stepped up as contractors Kier bid to meet the deadline.

Both Kier and Thurrock Council have declined recently to respond to Thurrock Nub News questions about the significantly increased number of closures and the possibility of missing the deadline and what financial implications that might bring for either party on a project that is already tens of millions over budget and years behind schedule.

There has been no further word from the council on the completion of the project since a statement at the beginning of July which simply said: "The project currently remains on schedule."

The weekend closure starts at 9pm tonight (Friday, 17 September) and finishes at 5am on Monday, 20 September. In addition to the roundabout closure, the following roads will also be affected:

• A13 westbound exit slip road closed
• A1013 Stanford Road closed in both directions between Voujon and Orsett Roundabout (Voujon remains open)
• Brentwood Road closed in both directions between Welling Road and Orsett Roundabout
• A1013 Stanford Road closed in both directions between Rectory Road and Orsett Roundabout
• A13 westbound entry slip road closed

Road users are asked to plan their journeys in advance to avoid the roundabout and its approaches and to find alternative routes, avoiding nearby villages.

Those wishing to travel to homes or businesses along the A1013 Stanford Road (east of Orsett Roundabout) must do via the eastern end of the Stanford Road via Buckingham Hill Road, London Road or The Manorway junction.

Those wishing to travel to and from The Bonners estate must do so via Chadwell St Mary as no access will be permitted via the Orsett Roundabout.

Our second graphic highlights further closure that will happen on the A128 the following week and into next weekend.

The work is part of the A13 Road Widening Project which involves adding an additional lane in both directions between Stanford-le-Hope and Orsett, replacing 4 bridges and improving the Orsett Roundabout.

The A128 Brentwood Road will be closed overnight next week and through the whole of the weekend for major construction works to continue.

The closure will affect the A128 in both directions between Orsett Road and Orsett Roundabout.

A diversion will be in place via the A127, A176 and A13 (and vice versa) and road users are urged to avoid using village routes, to minimise disruption to residents.

The closures start on Monday 20 September and will initially take place overnight, between 9pm and 5am for three nights.

Then, from 9pm on Friday 24 September, the closure will remain in place all weekend, until 5am on Monday 27 September.

During the weekend, the A13 eastbound exit slip road and the A13 eastbound entry slip road at the Orsett Roundabout will also be closed, but the roundabout itself will stay open.