A NEW road off Canvey could finally be closer to being built.

Veteran county and borough councillor Ray Howard believes plans for the long-awaited road, which have been in the pipeline since the Eighties, are one step closer after Essex County Council’s highways boss called for work to progress in the background.

During a meeting at County Hall about this year’s highways budget, Rodney Bass, councillor responsible for roads and transportation, told councillors schemes needed to be prepared in the background so they are ready to go if cash becomes available from the Government.

Improvements to the A120 are the priority for the county council, but Mr Howard believes a third road off the island and the completion of the Rosscommon Way extension on Canvey should be next in line.

He said: “I told Mr Bass I support the A120 because it is a very important part of the county’s road network.

“But I said access to Canvey needs to be taken as a serious problem. Congestion is at the point where the slightest mishap means the island is gridlocked.

“Additional access to Canvey and the last phase of the extension to Roscommon Way must be considered a priority.

“I asked whether these schemes would be developed by the council so they could be implemented as soon as funding becomes available.”

It has been suggested a new road could link up with Coryton, in Thurrock.

The first phase of the Roscommon Way extension, linking Northwick Road to Haven Road, was officially opened in December 2011.

A second phase would extend Roscommon Way all the way to Western Esplanade, providing a third main road on the island.

Supporters of the scheme believe it will bring more jobs and fewer traffic jams, allowing drivers to bypass Long Road when getting on or off the island.

Dave Blackwell, leader of the Canvey Independent Party, added: “The highways budget has already been allocated for the next ten years, but if one of those schemes falls through and there is another project which is ready to go, then that could be brought forward.

“We need to find £4million to carry out surveys, and they could take four or five years. Work needs to be done and we need to get started on it now.”

County Hall refused to comment on the plans.