EXCELLENT progress is being made on a £68million junction overhaul that is set to revolutionise journeys in south Essex.

Frustrated drivers negotiating the long queues that form around the tortuous Sadlers Farm roundabout on a daily basis have been able to take consolation in the steady evolution of an improvement scheme aimed at making delays a thing of the past.

The project began life as an artist’s impression when plans were unveiled in 2009, but is steadily becoming a fact on the ground, as earth is moved, carriageways are widened and new bridges take shape.

The scheme will see a new bypass connect the A13 directly with the A130, allowing drivers heading between London and Chelmsford to avoid Sadlers Farm altogether.

The junction’s notorious network of mini-roundabouts is also set to be torn up, to be replaced with a single roundabout. This will connect Benfleet, Canvey and Bowers Gifford to the new bypass via four new slip roads.

The scheme is set to be completed by spring 2012 and Tracy Chapman, Essex County Councillor for highways, said everything was on schedule.

She said: “You only have to see the daily traffic problems there to see this upgrade is desperately needed. The old junction worked very well when it was first opened, but everyone realises the amount of traffic on our roads has increased hugely since then.”

A major aspect of the scheme is the creation of three new bridges.

Two will link the new Sadlers Farm roundabout to the bypass, and the third will allow the existing London Road to cross the new bypass, linking Bowers Gifford to Benfleet and Canvey.

The giant beams for the bridges have been built and are now at the site and waiting to be hauled into position.

Before the bridges can be placed, the bypass itself must be completed.

Heavy digging equipment is hard at work creating a cutting that will eventually go directly through where the existing Sadlers Farm business park now stands.

There was uproar from those who were set to lose their homes and businesses when the scheme was first unveiled, but Essex County Council is now confident these issues have been resolved. Mrs Chapman said: “I understand everything has been agreed amicably and our contractors have been working hard to minimise the impact on the people living nearby.

“It has been a big challenge to keep the current Sadlers Farm junction open while the work takes place.”

Drivers going from the A13 to Canvey are set to be major beneficiaries of the scheme.

They currently have to negotiate two mini-roundabouts, which get blocked up during peak periods and lead to long tailbacks.

The new layout will see drivers heading to Canvey exit the A13 via a new sliproad, along with drivers going to Benfleet and Bowers Gifford.

However, a dedicated lane will take Canvey-bound drivers across the centre of the new Sadlers Farm roundabout and directly on to Canvey Way.

For the moment, people leaving the island have had to put up with a great deal of disruption, as workmen have closed a dedicated slip lane between Canvey Way and the A13.

Mrs Chapman said: “We all know getting on and off Canvey has been a big issue and I understand that things are worse at the moment. Everybody hates roadworks, but I really believe everyone will be pleased once the work is finished.”

For further details visit www.essex.gov.uk/sadlersfarm