Sadlers woe returns – and it’s here until next January

8:30am Thursday 13th September 2012 in News By Gina Marden

WORK to finish the notorious Sadlers Farm junction will start again on Monday – but won’t be finished until the end of January next year.

Essex County Council announced a new timetable for the beleaguered £63million project, which is now nine months behind schedule.

The roadworks will restart, having been postponed until the end of the Olympics due to the closeness of the junction to the mountain bike event at Hadleigh Country Park.

The scheme had been earmarked to finish before the Olympics had even started.

Announcing the new timetable yesterday, Derrick Louis, Essex county councillor for highways and transportation, said: “I recognise this completion date is later than residents and businesses would prefer, but in considering a number of options we have weighed up the absolute need to minimise disruption over achieving an earlier date.

“I would like to thank local residents and businesses for their continued patience while these works are taking place, and apologise for this project taking longer to finish than we have hoped for.”

Motorists have already faced months of disruption, while businesses nearby claim to be massively out of pocket because of the ongoing works.

The junction has been plagued by problems since work began.

It was due to start in April 2010, but because of funding problems was delayed until August that year.

Severe snow that winter caused futher problems and the project fell five months behind schedule.

Later in 2011, the council’s contractor Birse asked staff to work longer shifts, cutting the delays to just two months behind schedule.

Earlier this summer, Essex County Council was forced to tell the Olympic Delivery Authority work would not be finished in time for the Games, prompting work to be postponed during August.

Then, several motorists came forward to claim the temporary road surface was slippery and had nearly caused several serious accidents.

Businessman Jason White, 39, owner of JD Cycles, in London Road, Benfleet , said the roadworks had led to his worst trading performance in 15 years.

Mr White said: “I have no doubt the poor trading is 100 per cent down to the roadworks. During the Olympics when the roadworks were suspended, my trade was actually on the up.

“But while the roadworks were in action, absolutely no-one was coming here. I run a specialist shop and people do not want to sit in the Sadlers Farm traffic to come here.”

Mr White said he is now expecting to experience his worst Christmas trading as the delays stretch into 2013.

Comments (11)

8:55am Thu 13 Sep 12

Russ13 says...

January "next year"...... Glad it was clarified 'cos I wondered if they were going to add another January this year lol

I think "the powers that be" are damned if they do, damned if they don't here.

People are claiming the surface is dangerous and complaining and then people complain because the necessary works are going to be carried out.
January "next year"...... Glad it was clarified 'cos I wondered if they were going to add another January this year lol I think "the powers that be" are damned if they do, damned if they don't here. People are claiming the surface is dangerous and complaining and then people complain because the necessary works are going to be carried out. Russ13

11:01am Thu 13 Sep 12

Brunning999 says...

It has all been said before so =

Did you know that long last the tunnel from Church Road Benfleet to the Sydney Opera House is being filled in so try 'Easy Jet'
It has all been said before so = Did you know that long last the tunnel from Church Road Benfleet to the Sydney Opera House is being filled in so try 'Easy Jet' Brunning999

12:37pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Ian P says...

What is the betting that the new January completion date will be missed due to unforeseen inclement weather and snow during the winter period?
What is the betting that the new January completion date will be missed due to unforeseen inclement weather and snow during the winter period? Ian P

1:01pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Joe Hune says...

Yes it has already all been said before, but I just want to make four points:

1. Is it just me or is it really confusing to drive and understand which lane you should be in for which way you are going?

2. Does it make the traffic flow any quicker, because I don't think is does?

3. Mr White, maybe this has had some impact on your business, but we are in a recession and everybody is having a bad time of things, business is tough!

4. I challenge anybody to drive past the area and see everybody working. I normally see 50% standing / sitting around either chatting or smoking.
Yes it has already all been said before, but I just want to make four points: 1. Is it just me or is it really confusing to drive and understand which lane you should be in for which way you are going? 2. Does it make the traffic flow any quicker, because I don't think is does? 3. Mr White, maybe this has had some impact on your business, but we are in a recession and everybody is having a bad time of things, business is tough! 4. I challenge anybody to drive past the area and see everybody working. I normally see 50% standing / sitting around either chatting or smoking. Joe Hune

1:20pm Thu 13 Sep 12

nicknows says...

Joe Hune wrote:
Yes it has already all been said before, but I just want to make four points:

1. Is it just me or is it really confusing to drive and understand which lane you should be in for which way you are going?

2. Does it make the traffic flow any quicker, because I don't think is does?

3. Mr White, maybe this has had some impact on your business, but we are in a recession and everybody is having a bad time of things, business is tough!

4. I challenge anybody to drive past the area and see everybody working. I normally see 50% standing / sitting around either chatting or smoking.
1 – If people drive at the speed limit and look at the road signs and the direction markings on the road it is relative easy to be in the right place at the right time.

2 – The traffic is now controlled and as long as people observe the yellow box rules traffic does flow smoother.

3 – The old Focus car park having been blocked off for a few months will have had impact not only on Mr White’s business but other businesses in that area.

4 – 50% working I think is a gross exaggeration!!!
[quote][p][bold]Joe Hune[/bold] wrote: Yes it has already all been said before, but I just want to make four points: 1. Is it just me or is it really confusing to drive and understand which lane you should be in for which way you are going? 2. Does it make the traffic flow any quicker, because I don't think is does? 3. Mr White, maybe this has had some impact on your business, but we are in a recession and everybody is having a bad time of things, business is tough! 4. I challenge anybody to drive past the area and see everybody working. I normally see 50% standing / sitting around either chatting or smoking.[/p][/quote]1 – If people drive at the speed limit and look at the road signs and the direction markings on the road it is relative easy to be in the right place at the right time. 2 – The traffic is now controlled and as long as people observe the yellow box rules traffic does flow smoother. 3 – The old Focus car park having been blocked off for a few months will have had impact not only on Mr White’s business but other businesses in that area. 4 – 50% working I think is a gross exaggeration!!! nicknows

4:28pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Eric Whim says...

Ian P wrote:
What is the betting that the new January completion date will be missed due to unforeseen inclement weather and snow during the winter period?
they've made a big mistake by stipulating which January it will be, according to them, finished..

If they'd just said 'finished by January' then they could drag it out to 2015 if they wanted.....
[quote][p][bold]Ian P[/bold] wrote: What is the betting that the new January completion date will be missed due to unforeseen inclement weather and snow during the winter period?[/p][/quote]they've made a big mistake by stipulating which January it will be, according to them, finished.. If they'd just said 'finished by January' then they could drag it out to 2015 if they wanted..... Eric Whim

5:16pm Thu 13 Sep 12

whataday says...

Here we go again then Hell for all local residents Basically all it boils down to is govt. wanting link from A130 to A13. Why didn't they just by pass Sadlers Farm roundabout - at least then local people would be able to live reasonably n ormal lives and the govt would have had its precious link road
Here we go again then Hell for all local residents Basically all it boils down to is govt. wanting link from A130 to A13. Why didn't they just by pass Sadlers Farm roundabout - at least then local people would be able to live reasonably n ormal lives and the govt would have had its precious link road whataday

5:17pm Thu 13 Sep 12

whataday says...

Why aren't the waterways brought back into use for transporting goods
Why aren't the waterways brought back into use for transporting goods whataday

7:31pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Thecountrysgonetopot! says...

Id just like to say that since the contractors cleared off in July i have no issues in getting from basildon to tarpots via A130, what was an hour or so journey is now taking on average 15minutes. Theres never a queue on the A130 anymore but im concerned that with the contractors coming back its going to be a nightmare again....i told my boyfriend years ago that if Benfleet continued to be gridlocked in rush hour i would never move that way (he lives there and i live in tilbury and as its not a built up area we dont have many traffic jams etc) but now the roadworks have finished and all seems well i am happy to move to the area!
Id just like to say that since the contractors cleared off in July i have no issues in getting from basildon to tarpots via A130, what was an hour or so journey is now taking on average 15minutes. Theres never a queue on the A130 anymore but im concerned that with the contractors coming back its going to be a nightmare again....i told my boyfriend years ago that if Benfleet continued to be gridlocked in rush hour i would never move that way (he lives there and i live in tilbury and as its not a built up area we dont have many traffic jams etc) but now the roadworks have finished and all seems well i am happy to move to the area! Thecountrysgonetopot!

7:50am Fri 14 Sep 12

Ian P says...

whataday wrote:
Here we go again then Hell for all local residents Basically all it boils down to is govt. wanting link from A130 to A13. Why didn't they just by pass Sadlers Farm roundabout - at least then local people would be able to live reasonably n ormal lives and the govt would have had its precious link road
It might come as a surprise but I thought that is exactly what they did with the new underpass taking east bound traffic from the A13 to the north bound A130 and southbound A130 traffic to the west bound A13 without touching the roundabout itself? Or did you mean something else?
[quote][p][bold]whataday[/bold] wrote: Here we go again then Hell for all local residents Basically all it boils down to is govt. wanting link from A130 to A13. Why didn't they just by pass Sadlers Farm roundabout - at least then local people would be able to live reasonably n ormal lives and the govt would have had its precious link road[/p][/quote]It might come as a surprise but I thought that is exactly what they did with the new underpass taking east bound traffic from the A13 to the north bound A130 and southbound A130 traffic to the west bound A13 without touching the roundabout itself? Or did you mean something else? Ian P

10:40am Fri 14 Sep 12

PJR-121 says...

Ian P wrote:
whataday wrote: Here we go again then Hell for all local residents Basically all it boils down to is govt. wanting link from A130 to A13. Why didn't they just by pass Sadlers Farm roundabout - at least then local people would be able to live reasonably n ormal lives and the govt would have had its precious link road
It might come as a surprise but I thought that is exactly what they did with the new underpass taking east bound traffic from the A13 to the north bound A130 and southbound A130 traffic to the west bound A13 without touching the roundabout itself? Or did you mean something else?
I was trying to figure that one out myself - They have bypassed sadlers by doing what they've done - to bypass it any more would probably have required the demolition of half of Pitsea...

But it's not just the bypass - the old system of roundabouts had a queue on one causing havoc on the others - and heavy traffic in one direction was causing problems on both sides.

It seems they are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't again. It's started, it has to be finished, so let them get on with it!
[quote][p][bold]Ian P[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]whataday[/bold] wrote: Here we go again then Hell for all local residents Basically all it boils down to is govt. wanting link from A130 to A13. Why didn't they just by pass Sadlers Farm roundabout - at least then local people would be able to live reasonably n ormal lives and the govt would have had its precious link road[/p][/quote]It might come as a surprise but I thought that is exactly what they did with the new underpass taking east bound traffic from the A13 to the north bound A130 and southbound A130 traffic to the west bound A13 without touching the roundabout itself? Or did you mean something else?[/p][/quote]I was trying to figure that one out myself - They have bypassed sadlers by doing what they've done - to bypass it any more would probably have required the demolition of half of Pitsea... But it's not just the bypass - the old system of roundabouts had a queue on one causing havoc on the others - and heavy traffic in one direction was causing problems on both sides. It seems they are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't again. It's started, it has to be finished, so let them get on with it! PJR-121

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