JUST a matter of weeks since the junction of Buckingham Hill Road and Stanford Road (QA1013) just outside Stanford-le-Hope was finally declared roadwork free and a new set of traffic lights finally up and running the junction may be dug up again.

The junction has been a blight on local motorists lives for a couple of years because of much-delayed work to install the new traffic lights which were part of an Thurrock Council agreement with Persimmon Homes as part of a deal to allow them to build new homes in East Tilbury.

The job was botched by the original contractors and for almost two years temporary lights were in place at the junction. Often they malfunctioned and the junction was judged to be dangerous and there were several accidents there.

In April the problems were compounded when a gas leak occurred and workers from Cadent, which runs much of the UK gas distribution network, carried out emergency repairs which included closing off one of the junction's approach lanes while significant engineering work was carried out over a number of days. The work ran into early May.

It wasn't long after Cadent had completed their work that the junction was finally properly kitted out with new lights and the roads resurfaced.

However, over the past couple of days Cadent workers have been back at the site, with one of the approach lanes again blocked off. More significant inspections took place today (Wednesday, 4 November) and a spokesperson from Cadent has confirmed more major work could be on the way at the junction.

In May he had told Thurrock Nub News: "It looks like a more complicated job than they first thought." And now he has confirmed more big excavations may be needed, saying engineers were on site today: "Checking to see if it's a gas mains replacement job."