A NATIONAL company that serves South Essex has stated a major road is shut today – resulting in ‘delays’ for people travelling.

First Essex took to social media to confirm that four of its bus services, 21, 21C,22 and 27, will all be affected due to Essex Way being closed.

Essex Way, in Benfleet, is a key route linking Hadleigh and Benfleet with Canvey.

According to First Essex, there is no diversion in place and delays are ‘likely’ to and from Canvey.

The 21C service will terminate at Benfleet station and will not continue to Hadleigh as it usually does.

Echo: Vehicle - a First BusVehicle - a First Bus (Image: First Bus)

First Essex expects the disruption to be in place until April 14.

This follows on from when it was previously announced that the gas company Cadent would be closing the road for 17 days to complete a series of major works.

It’s part of a £3.4 million project to replace old iron gas mains with more durable plastic pipes in Benfleet and Canvey to ensure reliable supplies of gas to homes and businesses in the area.

A spokesman for Caden previously stated that the project involves replacing 13km of old metallic pipes, which is over eight miles.

Echo: Closed - a section of Essex WayClosed - a section of Essex Way (Image: Google Maps)

Andrew Sheldon, Essex county councillor responsible for South Benfleet, said: “These works will be disruptive, but they need to be done.

“Cadent are investing millions to make our local gas network more resilient after we had a summer of emergency gas works spring up around leaks across Benfleet a few years ago.”