“VITAL improvements” are needed along the A127 to unlock the potential of the transport spine and economic corridor for South Essex.

Essex County Council is building a case for Southend Arterial Road to be re-trunked to unlock the necessary funding to revamp the busy highway.

In simple terms, if a road is trunked, it becomes the responsibility of the government – namely National Highways – to maintain and improve it.

“It’s clear that the A127 from Southend right the way down to the M25 needs improvement at almost every junction along the way,” Essex county councillor Malcolm Buckley said.

“It was designed in an era when traffic levels were much lower and vehicles were slower and smaller.

“It is just not fit for purpose today; vital improvements are needed.”

The road was constructed in the 1920s, replacing the older A13.

Formerly classified as a trunk road, it was "de-trunked" in 1997.

“The A127 is such a strategic route that serves the industrial corridor at Basildon that sustains 40,000 or so jobs and gives access to Southend Airport and the industrial areas around there,” Mr Buckley added.

“We are asking the government to take responsibility for the road, as the cost of the work that is need is such that county council does not have the resources to do it.”

For many years the A127 has received little improvement compared to other major roads in the county such as the A12 and M11.

And the A127 is the only A road of its size in the county that is not trunked – despite ECC data showing the flow of traffic is higher on the A127 than on the M11 along certain sections.

Basildon Councillor Kerry Smith believes re-trunking the road is key to unlocking south Essex’s economic potential.

“The road is decades out of date,” he said.

“We are a country in desperate need of economic growth and the government spends money in south Essex it will see a return.

“It will help to generate economic growth and it won’t take for ever to repay the investment; it’s a no-brainer for me.”

Southend councillor Ron Woodley agrees improvement works are needed but added he would oppose any move that increased the road’s width or capacity past the city’s boundary.

“With the sheer volume of traffic using the road every day, there needs to be upgrade works to bring it up to date,” he said.

“However, while the road skirts past south Essex’s towns, it goes right through Southend.

“Any decision or changers that are made must take into consideration, the safety and needs of our residents.”

Bosses at County Hall say they are working on proposals for the A127 taken back into the control of management of National Highways.

“The A127 Task Force have been making the case for the A127 to be re-trunked,” an ECC spokesman said.

“An update is expected on this process later this year.”

ECC is also preparing a bid for funding to the Department for Transport (DfT) funding for works on the road’s Warley, Halfway House, Fortune of War and Pound Lane junctions.