CONTRACTORS may be forced to dig up newly finished paving at a busy A127 junction in order to lay the foundations for a footbridge.

Work is underway to widen the Kent Elms junction to three lanes each way.

The council has yet to choose and purchase a new footbridge which will span the junction.

While work on the road was meant to be completed by the spring, it has now been delayed until the autumn. The whole project won’t be complete until the installation of the footbridge in December.

Belfairs ward councillor Stephen Aylen fears the delay in deciding on a design for the bridge casts doubt on the project - but Southend Council insists it remains an important aspect of the improvement work.

Mr Aylen said: “What is the point of digging up paving that has just been laid? Why wasn’t it planned? This is a big part of this project

“To me the evidence suggests there is not going to be a bridge. Why go to all that effort to move cables and services when they may have to do it again.

“This is either extremely management or they have not intention of providing a bridge . If they were intent on putting a bridge in, it would be part of the design.

“They have done this project with a major part missing.”

Eastwood ward councillor, Chris Walker, added: “The previous administration didn’t want a footbridge which is why they never got round to designing it or ordering it which is what’s going to stretch the job out even longer.

“They will have to close a lane for worker safety and there will be even more hold ups on the A127. Do they know where they have put services or will they have to start again and move them out of the way. If so this will really hold up the job.”

Long suffering motorists have had to deal with off peak lane closures for months, as end dates have moved further forward.

Any further delays are also likely to increase traffic on alternative routes as drivers try to avoid the jams.

A Southend Council spokesman said: “The highways works and bridge are two distinctly different projects and it is not useful to speculate about the bridge works before we have appointed a company to do the work and have a final design and work programme.

“We will soon be in a position to make an announcement on the bridge.”

The spokesman added: “Work on the foundations can take place while work continues on the highway. We do not need to complete the highways work before we start on the foundations.

“We’ll know where the foundations go when we have the final designs. The priority is to get the highway reopened and whether we are digging foundations into a new pavement or old one is immaterial. Clearly, the supports for the bridge won’t be going into the road as that would obstruct traffic.”