A £12MILLION road scheme has been held up after it was found extra work was needed to support gas and oil pipelines.

The Roscommon Way extension aims to join Canvey Road to Charfleets Industrial Estate, diverting vehicles away from Long Road on Canvey.

However, the scheme, which is part of the regeneration of the Charfleets Industrial Estate, has stalled after workmen found they had to carry out extra works around three oil and gas pipes.

The work had been progressing well and the mile-long road had been due to open in April, but now there are fears this extra work will set the project back. The council is surveying the area to find out how much it will cost and how long it will take to fix.

Ray Howard, county councillor for Canvey West, said: “The works were going on extremely well and all of a sudden the pipeline has become a technical problem.

“My only disappointment was they were progressing so well, it is now delaying the project.

“It was due to open in April, but it looks like it is going to delay it and I am very disappointed about that.”

Two seven-metre bridges have already been built and an Essex County Council spokesman said he remained hopeful the road would open on time.

He said: “The Roscommon Way Improvement Scheme will bring much-needed relief to the road network of Canvey Island, and provide a significant boost to the regeneration of the area.

“Essex County Council has been monitoring the works in the vicinity of the pipelines very carefully during the work, working closely with the pipeline agency.”

It is believed the road and pipelines need to be strengthend.

The spokesman added: “A programme of work and costs for this work are being determined, however the improvement scheme is still on course for completion later this year.”