ESSEX County Council has defended its decision to close a carriageway on a busy local road, even though the decision has infuriated motorists who have queued for up to 90 minutes to get past the scene – only to see no work has been done there since the cones went up at the beginning of the week.

The closure of the carriageway just after the Five Bells roundabout on the eastbound A13 will continue for at least another week before work begins.

The cause is a weakened concert slab says the highways department of Essex Council, though the uneven surface at the point recently identified has been there for months.

At peak times, particularly from 4pm as traffic heads east towards Basildon and Southend, the traffic has tailed back through the a13 road widening works between the Manorway roundabout at Stanford-le-Hope and the Orsett Cock roundabout at Orsett and back further to the North Stifford interchange at times.

The clash with the A13 works, which this weekend includes the closure of both east and west carriageways has compounded traffic delays with significant congestion on surround roads and through towns and villages this morning (Saturday, 6 November).

Traffic, for example, has been queuing through Stanford-le-Hope town centre for much of the morning as drivers seek a diversion, while villages including Horndon on the Hill, and Orsett have reported increased traffic – despite an appeal by Thurrock Council for drivers not to use rural roads as diversion.

Essex Council says it has not been possible to avoid a clash because it does not have the resource for emergency works. It adds it has been in 'close liaison' with Thurrock Council.

A spokesperson for Essex highways said: "Although the problem affecting this section of the road has been there for some time, we know it has significantly worsened over recent weeks, with soft ground likely to be the problem. Due to the further deterioration, we have put a lane closure in place for public safety.

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"In order to carry out the full repairs necessary a full road closure will be needed. As a result of this, work cannot begin until Friday 12th November due to a pre-existing road closure on the A13 in Thurrock.

"We are in close liaison with Thurrock Council to coordinate any future lane closures along the A13.

"We apologise for any inconvenience and congestion the necessary lane closure is causing whilst we plan and carry out the repairs needed."