A COUNCIL is planning to spend a further £17million improving a busy A127 junction.

Improvements to the Fairglen interchange on the A127/A130 will include a new link road as part of a £233million investment in highways, infrastructure and public transport by Essex County Council over the next 30 years.

Tens of thousands of motorists use the A127/A130 Fairglen Interchange daily with the capital programme up to 2022 including £17,154,000 for Fairglen.

The new road will link the A130 and A1245.

Announcing its spending plans, the council said: “Over the last three years the council has invested over £200million on improving the quality of the roads and footways.

"As a result, the council has seen significant improvements in the condition of the main road network which will extend into local roads and improvements to relieve congestion in a number of key locations.”

Essex Chamber of Commerce recently lobbied the Transport Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling for more investment in the county’s roads.

Chief executive Denise Rossiter said: “Whenever we speak to our members their frustration at getting stuck in queues on the county’s roads comes to the fore.

“It’s not just the time and money they are losing that annoys them, but the length of time it takes to get any meaningful improvements in our transport systems. ”

Ms Rossiter added: There are plenty of plans afoot to upgrade roads or build new links but what businesses can’t understand is why it takes so long to do so.”

The organisation welcomed confirmation of continued improvements to Fairglen.

Director of policy David Burch said: “Anyone who uses the A127 and A130 will know of the congestion that frequently occurs around the Fairglen Interchange and the delays that occur to journeys as a result.

"The confirmation of the investment needed to improve this junction are very welcome and should help reduce congestion in the future which will be a real boon to places like Basildon and Southend who are seeing growing interest from businesses in either expanding existing operations, such as at Southend Airport, or else relocating there from elsewhere.”