MORE than £5million will be spent on the Sadlers Farm roundabout improvements to make sure it is ready for the 2012 Olympics.

The £63million scheme will be funded by the Department of Transport, but it will not release the cash until the project has final approval.

First, a public inquiry will be held in July and a final decision is not likely until at least November.

But the Essex County Council wants to crack on and bosses have decided to invest some of its own cash to get the project started.

It is hoped the cash will be given back by the Government once the scheme is approved.

In a report, councillor Norman Hume, the county council’s transport boss who authorised the funding, said: “The Sadlers Farm junction improvement contract must adhere to a strict timetable to deliver in advance of the Olympics in 2012 specifically the mountain biking event at Hadleigh Farm.

“In order not to incur slippage in the programme, the operations outlined in this report will need to be undertaken.”

Preparatory works include £2,464,000 to redirect utility supply lines and pipes to make way for a new link road from the A13 Southend bound to the A130 towards Rayleigh.

The new road layout, replacing the existing mini roundabouts with one big roundabout has already been drawn up, but a further £1,214,000 has been earmarked for more detailed design work and £205,000 set aside for land surveys. Relocating newts found on part of the site will cost £400,000, and a further £100,000 will be spent on creating allotments in London Road, Bowers Gifford, to replace 61 plots lost in London Road to make way for the new link road.

Advanced construction site works to make sure the project starts in January 2010 will cost £120,000.

Staff costs up until November have been estimated at £470,000 and £135,000 has been set aside to deal with any matters arising from the public inquiry in July, taking the total investment by Essex to £5.1 million.