YET another major road closure will bring disruption and additional traffic onto rural roads in the east of Thurrock as the long and overrunning A13 widening project continues into its fourth year.

The Orsett Cock roundabout will be fully closed through the whole weekend for major construction and surfacing works. The closures start at 9pm tonight (Friday, 21 January) and will remain in place until 5am on Monday, 24 January.

In addition to the roundabout closure, all feeder roads will also be closed, including:

• A128 Brentwood Road closed in both directions between Orsett Road, Horndon and Orsett Roundabout
• A13 eastbound entry slip road closed
• 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 (Recycled in Orsett remains open)
• A13 westbound entry slip road closed
• A13 eastbound exit slip road closed

The A13 itself stays open in both directions. Thurrock Council has asked road users to plan their journeys in advance to avoid the roundabout and its approaches and to find alternative routes, avoiding nearby villages. It adds 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. The council has steadfastly refused to respond to numerous enquiries by Nub News about why it has been necessary to have so many major road closures, when throughout the life of the whole project there were only supposed to be a maximum of 12. There have been dozens! When the scheme began in 2019, describing the potential impact of the works on road users contractors Kier said that there was 'potential for 12 full closures over two years' and added: "Work is ongoing top reduce this number". They further described the closures programme as 'occasional'. Last month, after concerted pressure from opposition councillor Martin Kerin, the Labour group's spokesperson on transport, the council did give some explanation as to why works have run so long over the projected finish. Up until last month the council had continued to say that work would be completed by the end of 2021.