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Weeks of traffic woe for island’s motorists

10:57am Monday 30th June 2008

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MOTORISTS are set to face six weeks of traffic misery as roadworks take place on both of Canvey's access roads at the same time.

From Sunday, July 6, both lanes of Canvey Way will be closed overnight for five nights while workmen start on a £700,000 package of improvements to the busy highway which was announced last month.

The following day, Monday, July 7, the Canvey-bound lane of Canvey Road will be closed between 9.30am and 3.30pm every day for six weeks while part of the parapet on Canvey Bridge is replaced.

Dave Blackwell, leader of Canvey Island Independent Party, said: "It's going to end up with six weeks of gridlock.

"If there are any problems both roads could end up being closed at the same time."

Norman Hume, Essex county councillor responsible for highways and transport, said: "We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

"The works are a very necessary part of making sure our highways remain up to the highest possible standards."

Canvey Bridge, which crosses Benfleet Creek, will be closed completely on Sunday, July 6, from midnight until 5am, while a safety barrier is installed. From 9.30am the following day, the Canvey-bound lane will be closed during off-peak hours and traffic lights will be in place.

Only the eastern part of Canvey Bridge is being replaced.

Canvey Way will be closed from 7.30pm until 6am from Sunday, July 6, to Thursday, July 10, for work to prepare the road for resurfacing. The resurfacing is planned to be carried out overnight on July 15, 16 and 17.

The resurfacing is part of measures, including the closure of the laybys and the introduction of a 50mph speed limit and speed cameras to improve safety at the accident blackspot.

For more information on the scheme call Essex County Council on 0845 6037631.

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Your Say YourEcho

Let Down of, Canvey Island says...
11:53am Mon 30 Jun 08

Dave Blackwell, leader of Canvey Island Independent Party, said: "It's going to end up with six weeks of gridlock.

"If there are any problems both roads could end up being closed at the same time."

Come on Dave, I thought you were meant to stop these problems. It seems that you are no different to the tories.

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Fed Up, Canvey- Mmm says...
12:39pm Mon 30 Jun 08

Surely this would be logical to carry out these works at seperate times just in case they do need to both be shut... If both roads were closed and the Emergency services are needed to attend an incident how would they get through.... Surely lives could be at risk!!!

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Tracey, Canvey Island says...
1:37pm Mon 30 Jun 08

They want to hope and prey nothing serious happens on the island when they shut these roads off. This makes me sick! the council can afford to put up a band stand over the seafront but not expand canvey way? im pleased to see our taxes are going to a good cause!!!!! this island is an accident waiting to happen.

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LILY, CANVEY says...
1:44pm Mon 30 Jun 08

Why is this work not been done during the school holidays when the roads are a lot quieter?

Obviously by doing both roads at once maximum delays will result.

Lets hope that the motorbike riders don't go to mad overtaking and cause an accident bringing everything to a wonderful halt.

Have the council not heard about the carbon footprint? or are they tryig to make a huge one!!!!!!

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anon, canvey says...
3:06pm Mon 30 Jun 08

Who makes these wonderful decisions for the highways. Castlepoint doit again. Jump in with both feet first ask questions later.When are we going to get a council that knows what they are doing. No organisation or thought has gone into this whatsover. everyone is fed up with thee concerned.No consideration for people living in Benfleet or Canvey travelling to work whilst this sis going on. What can i say useless reminds me of Network Rail in practice.

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Snake Plissken, says...
3:38pm Mon 30 Jun 08

Perhaps it's secretly a front to blow both bridges and erect a thirty-foot wall around the island a la Escape From New York.

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peter, canvey says...
5:40pm Mon 30 Jun 08

what nonthing from ray howard on this on this road works has he likes to have his say then again the poeple on the council dont have much brains anyway and you might find find they dont care what happens to the people of canvey

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COCOCO, canvey says...
6:09pm Mon 30 Jun 08

Great planning again,for most of us it would be nice to be able to reach 50 mph on this busy road.As for speed cameras improving safety at accident blackspot a double carriageway would be safer whoops!! no money from fines though bet i am not the only cynic.Lets hope they get vandalised and prove to be a waste of money.

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6 weeks?, says...
6:36pm Mon 30 Jun 08

I understand that work needs to be done on roads and bridges but why cant they do this during the night when its quiet.
Its not a built up area so this will not disburb anybody.
It seems the council want to cause as much trouble as possible.

What would happen if there was a accident on the other ONLY road to Canvey??

This is just bloody silly who's idea was this anyway...

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Dave, Canvey says...
11:39pm Mon 30 Jun 08

Please tell me I have mis-read this, but on Sunday 6, BOTH roads will be completly closed from midnight until 5am. Seriously!?!

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Mathew Batchelor, Canvey Island says...
8:13am Tue 1 Jul 08

This is ridiculous! The work can be carried out during the night thus causing minimal distruption to the public! That fact you have choosen to carry this work out during the day which will cause major distruption and increased carbon emissions due to the sitting traffic is ludicrous! We NEED another road off the island!

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Amanda, Canvey says...
12:40pm Tue 1 Jul 08

COCOCO wrote:
Great planning again,for most of us it would be nice to be able to reach 50 mph on this busy road.As for speed cameras improving safety at accident blackspot a double carriageway would be safer whoops!! no money from fines though bet i am not the only cynic.Lets hope they get vandalised and prove to be a waste of money.
It's not the best piece of planning I've heard of but hey at least they are spending money on trying to make things better. Comments about vandalising things won't help. If we go around trashing things when money is spent it is hardly an incentive for the government to give us £80m for a new road.

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Ivanna Goodhump, says...
2:41pm today Tue 1 Jul 08

peter wrote:
what nonthing from ray howard on this on this road works has he likes to have his say then again the poeple on the council dont have much brains anyway and you might find find they dont care what happens to the people of canvey
As you won't be able to leave the island for 6 weeks how about enrolling on an English course at college.

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The Vicar, Basildon says...
3:15pm Tue 1 Jul 08

Mathew Batchelor wrote:
This is ridiculous! The work can be carried out during the night thus causing minimal distruption to the public! That fact you have choosen to carry this work out during the day which will cause major distruption and increased carbon emissions due to the sitting traffic is ludicrous! We NEED another road off the island!
Two roads are plenty for an island of Canvey's size - if well managed.

I want, I want...

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buspassuser, Canvey says...
3:25pm Tue 1 Jul 08

Dave wrote:
Please tell me I have mis-read this, but on Sunday 6, BOTH roads will be completly closed from midnight until 5am. Seriously!?!
I have read and re-read this article and I come to the same conclusion as Dave, i.e there will not be any access on or off the island on Sunday night for a five hour period. When we will be efectivly held hostage on the island. Open up the barrier access road and control it with traffic lights.

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spooner, canvey says...
6:37pm Tue 1 Jul 08

Snake Plissken wrote:
Perhaps it's secretly a front to blow both bridges and erect a thirty-foot wall around the island a la Escape From New York.
PLease do not give the CIIP any ideas!!!!

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gary, canvey says...
8:56pm Tue 1 Jul 08

Norman Hume can shove his apology where the sun don't shine, why doesn't he move onto the island whilst these works are happening and see how he copes with it. As usual us islanders never get asked it's just done without any thought or proper planning wether we want it or not an inept council full of dicks for planners and management

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Paul Fretwell, Benfleet says...
8:58pm Tue 1 Jul 08

Ahem! Anyone want to buy a raft?

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Darren, canvey says...
9:54am Wed 2 Jul 08

I start work at 2am realy monday morning in chemsford, which means I wont actually be able to go to work on that day!!

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Gary, says...
12:18pm Wed 2 Jul 08

Both roads closed on July 6 from Midnight to 5am... This has to be stopped NOW!!! I cannot believe there is such incompetence in the transport department. Heads should roll over this

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Mark, Canvey says...
1:14pm Wed 2 Jul 08

I sent an email to Essex County Council. The following response details the closures...

Canvey Road

Saturday 5th 2100 to Sunday 6th 0600 Canvey Road CLOSED

Sunday 6th 2100 to Monday 7th 0600 Canvey Road CLOSED..



The works on Canvey Road will then continue for 6 to 8 weeks with traffic lights in operation 0930 to 1530 only.





Canvey Way

Monday 7th 2100 to Tuesday 8th 0600 and every weekday night of the week that follows Canvey Way CLOSED



No traffic management will be in place on Canvey Way during the day. There will be further closures on Canvey Way in the coming weeks but these are yet to be finalised.





I would also confirm that there are contingency plans in place so that, in the event that there is an “incident” on Canvey Way during the operation of the traffic lights on Canvey Road, the traffic lights will be removed to allow for traffic to flow as freely as possible.

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Shane, Canvey Island says...
3:46pm Wed 9 Jul 08

What are the CIIP doing about this? Why are they not negotiating on the disruption this is going to cause on our behalf like they were elected for?

It appears to me that once they had been elected (again) what are they doing?

NOTHING!

Just for a change.

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