We have all spent countless hours stuck in traffic on the A127 over the years, but we are fast approaching the Southend Arterial Road’s centenary.
Royalty headed to south Essex for the milestone moment, with Prince Henry visiting Rayleigh to open a vital section of the road on March 25, 1925.
Crowds flocked to the roadside and the A127 was a long time coming.
Five years earlier, in 1920, Prime Minister David Lloyd George had announced plans for a programme of new roads to be built around London to create jobs for former soldiers from the First World War.
Work began on the first seven miles of the Southend Arterial Road on December 8, 1921.
Crowds and flags - more than 1,000 people line the streets to see the Prince open the road 96 years ago
By early 1924 the road was ready for final surfacing and it cost £1.5million to complete the build.
Scroll down to see some more eye-catching photographs of the big day.
Royal seal of approval - the Rayleigh section of the new road was opened by Prince Henry
Royal visitor - Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester, was 24 when he came to Essex to open the Southend Arterial Road
Spectators - crowds begin to line the streets ahead of the Prince’s arrival
Official document - the Address of Welcome from the corporation of Southend, which marked the Prince’s visit close to 100 years ago
Read more:
- IN PICTURES: When the Queen and other members of the Royal Family headed to south Essex
- Prince Philip's visits to Essex in 14 pictures
In his youth - Prince Henry (far right) was the son of Queen Mary (centre) who ruled from 1910 until 1936
Early days - the A127 was officially opened in March 1925
Gridlock - the A127 is now used by countless motorists everyday
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