THERE will be more disruption to local traffic and busy roads in the Thurrock area this weekend with the latest significant closure of the A13 for works in connection with Thurrock Council's road widening project.

The council is calling on drivers not to use the villages of Horndon on the Hill and Orsett and other rural routs as 'rat runs' and is instead suggesting 'non-local' motorists should make the more significant detour via the A127.

The A13 will be closed in both directions between the A1014 (Stanford-le-Hope Manorway junction) and A128 (Orsett Cock roundabout) junctions this weekend, for drainage, road construction, surfacing and barrier works.

The closures start at 9pm tomorrow (Friday, 10 September) and remain until 5am on Monday, 13 September with traffic diverted via the A1013 Stanford Road instead.

A council statement says: "To minimise the impact on residential areas, road users are urged not to divert through nearby towns and villages, with non-local traffic encouraged to use the A127 instead to avoid causing congestion."

The message comes in the wake of a meeting today between councillors in the areas affected and the Kier Construction group to review what happened last weekend when a closure of the A13 between the Orsett Cock roundabout and the A1089 Tilbury Dock Approach Road caused significant congestion on local roads.

Orsett councillor Sue Little has reported from the meeting, saying: "Last weekend's closure was slightly different to normal in the fact that the closure was between Tilbury and Orsett – as such none of the usual village protection measures were installed in Horndon on the Hill.

"The project team have now acknowledged that this enabled some issues within Horndon, particularly at the Hole in the Wall and have made a commitment to ensure that the village protection measures will be installed during future closures between Tilbury and Orsett.

"There is only one more of this particular type of closure scheduled in the project, at the end of October.

"The project team have also been looking into the feasibility of closing one of the eastbound feeder routes into Orsett during future closures of the A13, to minimise the opportunity for traffic to 'rat run' through the village.

"One particular proposal was rejected on safety grounds and because of the likely impact on other parts of Orsett and the team are now looking at an alternative option. This will not be in place for this weekends closure of the A13 between Orsett and Stanford-le-Hope but we are continuing to look at the option for future closure."

As well as the weekend closure, there will be overnight disruption the following week around the Orsett Cock roundabout. That will extend into another big weekend closure that will affect many residents.

A large section of the roundabout will be closed overnight next week and through the whole of next weekend for major construction and re-alignment works.

The closures start on Monday, 13 September and will initially take place overnight, between 9pm and 5am for four nights.

Then, from 9pm on Friday, 17 September, the closures will remain in place all weekend, until 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

A council statement says: "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.

The frequency of major road closures and the huge disruption that has been caused over the past two years has caused some residents to reflect on a statement at the start of the project by Kier that they planned a maximum of 12 major closures during the two year lifespan of the project – which has subsequently significantly overrun.

Describing the potential impact of the works on road users Kier said that there was 'potential for 12 full closures over two years - work is ongoing top reduce this number'.

They further described the closures programme as 'occasional'.

In the wake of the significant number of full closures already – with more planned, Thurrock Nub News asked Thurrock Council and Kier the following questions:-

"Does the council have any explanation why this figure (12) is so wrong - and why the public in the area appear to have been so significantly misled?

"Will Kier face any financial penalty for getting this so wrong? Or make any compensatory payment to the borough for the inconvenience.

Both the council and Kier have declined to respond to date!