A LONG-AWAITED £90million scheme to widen a busy section of the A13 could get underway within the next year...as long as Government funding for the project is confirmed.

Thurrock Council and DP World London Gateway are working with the Department of Transport and Essex Chamber of Commerce to widen the road between the Stanford-le-Hope and Orsett Cock junctions.

The DP World port, in Stanford-le-Hope, is putting forward £10million to help fund the major project.

But the remaining £80million is yet to be confirmed, with highways bosses awaiting the green light from the Government to proceed with the scheme.

Road chiefs say the road widening scheme, which would see the extra lanes built in the current central reservation area of the carriageway, has been in the pipeline since 2003.

If the Government funding is secured, it is hoped construction work will begin in October next year, taking about two years to complete.

Although drivers are being warned to expect disruption when the works begin, project managers insist the inconvenience will be kept to a minimum.

Mark Eves, associate director of transport for engineering company Aecom, said there could be temporary complete closures of the A13.

He added: “We want to keep two lanes of the road open on both sides most of the time during peak times.

“During off-peak times, such as during the night, there will be restrictions in place.

“We are considering one single lane each side of the carriageway at night and we are also looking at a speeding limit of between 40 and 50 miles per hour.

“The speed limit is for safety reasons.”

Les Burns, chief highway engineer and environment and place officer at Thurrock Council, said the A13 project will go ahead regardless of ongoing debate and uncertainty about the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.

Denise Rossiter, chief executive of Essex Chamber of Commerce, has vowed to give Essex businesses priority to take part in the different aspects of this project.

She added:”At the Essex Chamber of Commerce we want to help and engage with communities and organisations to get the information out there.

“Everybody living in Essex, is aware of and has experienced the issues with traffic and it is horrendous.

“This project will have a huge impact on people and communities as a whole.”