HIGHWAYS bosses have pointed the finger at contractor Balfour Beatty as overrunning roadworks at Sadlers Farms are "compounding frustration and inconvenience for drivers".

Balfour Beatty is carrying out out vital remedial works to the A13/A130 Sadlers Farm roundabout.

The 12-month programme of works include improvements to the A13 central reservation and were meant to be completed in December.

Motorists have endured a series of weekend and overnight closures at the busy junction. The works have also included a lane closure on the A13 eastbound as it merges into the A130.

An Essex County Council spokesperson said: “It is highly regrettable that these remedial works have needed to be done at all, and the delay in completion has compounded frustration and inconvenience for drivers.

“As the original contractor for the Sadlers Farm scheme, the work is the responsibility of Balfour Beatty and has to be done at their expense, there is no cost to the Council or the taxpayer. Essex County Council have insisted that Balfour Beatty use every means possible to finish this work and end the disruption as soon as possible.”

David Burch, director of policy at Essex Chambers of Commerce, said: “It is worrying that works that were supposed to be completed at the end of last October are still on going and there is no sign of completion soon.

“This is an important major junction serving several roads and both businesses and local residents want to see an end to these roadworks.

“We urge the councils to get this completed as soon as possible.”

One angry motorist said he believed work, which has included temporary 50mph speed limits, had halted on the busy junction.

Mark Baker, from Grays said: “I commute from Grays to Chelmsford every day.

“I have tried contacting the council and Balfour Beatty but I’m getting nowhere .

“They won’t tell me what the issue is.

“I have seen no workers on the works in months.

“They should have finished and now it just looks abandoned. There’s something fishy about it.”

The remedial works include the upgrading of existing drainage systems on the A13/A130 Link Road, works to the block retaining wall and bridges, the replacement of bearings on two bridges, embankment re-profiling and carriageway strengthening on the A13 near Pitsea.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said some overnight work had been announced by the company last week.

She added: “Balfour Beatty are carrying out these remedial works at no public expense.

“You will need to contact Balfour Beatty direct for detailed queries about the nature of their works/delays.”

Balfour Beatty did not respond to a request for information from the Echo.