OFFICERS have been instructed to press ahead with work to produce more detailed information about two options on a scheme to allow traffic to access the A13 eastbound from Lakeside and bring a halt to the logjams that frequently gridlock the west of the borough.

The scheme was agreed in principle in 2018, when the cost was estimated at £48.5 million, and since then work has been taking place on a number of alternative ways to configure the new junction.

That shortlist has now been whittled down to two and officers have been told to get cracking on compiling a business case for both and submitting it to the government.

In a proposal approved by cabinet members on Wednesday (12 February) the next steps have been set out – with the cost of the scheme now earmarked at £50 million.

Members were told there has been a longstanding desire to improve the connection between the Lakeside basin and the strategic road network.

A report says: "The local road network does not experience the traditional 'commuter' peaks in the morning and evening rush hours. Due to the prevalence of the retail employment in the area, the evening peak extends from early afternoon through to early evening through the week and weekends meaning that the poor traffic conditions are experienced by shoppers, workers and residents for a considerable portion of the week.

"Excess traffic on the local roads has been seen to lead to:

• Congestion and slow journey speeds through much of the day;
• Collision concentrations can be seen at the Stifford Interchange due to the high volumes of conflicting traffic, moving in a constantly stop-start manner due to queuing;
• The A1306 in particular is the location for Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA), where the amount of private and commercial traffic has pollution impacts.

"Through the analysis of national traffic forecasts, it is estimated that vehicle trips at peak times are expected to increase between 17-26% across the study area between 2018 and 2036.

"Without key infrastructure investment or significant changes in travel demand and behaviour, this growth will exacerbate the existing issues and make it unviable for business to expand or move to the area. Objectives 3

"The overarching objective of the A13 East Facing Access scheme is to improve strategic connectivity to the east which will reduce congestion across the study area. This will have an impact on journeys along the A13, traffic visiting and leaving Lakeside as well as local traffic.

"Reducing congestion will increase the capacity available in the local network, which will be able to accommodate future population, housing and economic growth planned in Thurrock."

The council's portfolio holder for regeneration, Cllr Mark Coxshall, said: "It's about time we deliver this, it will be brilliant for Lakeside and the end of the queues of people trying to get out of the Lakeside basin."

Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill agreed and said that speed was of the essence now to keep costs down, adding: "It is quite important, this is an outline business case. We all know that as you go forward costs rise. It is important that the quicker we get this done, the less impact there will be on the taxpayer."