A SLIPROAD that caused hours of congestion for thousands of drivers when it was closed, has been reopened.

Motorists had suffered lengthy delays when the sliproad from Canvey Way on to the A13 was closed in June, as part of a £68million overhaul of the Sadlers Farm roundabout.

This meant all vehicles travelling along Canvey Way had to queue at the roundabout instead.

Essex County Council has now re-opened the sliproad following a successful campaign by Tory councillor Ray Howard and teacher Colin Letchford, 64, of Maurice Road, Canvey, who uses Canvey Way every day driving to James Hornsby School, in Laindon.

Mr Letchford said: “This is really good news. It was difficult getting to work when the sliproad was closed. I used to join the queue from Canvey town centre and it would be nose to tail to Sadlers Farm roundabout.”

Drivers had been particularly annoyed before the sliproad was re-opened, as it was not closed to allow work to take place, but just as a health and safety precaution.

This was because Essex County Council was concerned having three lanes of heavy traffic merging into two narrow lanes could cause an accident.

Mr Howard added: “Common sense has prevailed. I’ve already driven through there, on my way to a meeting, and it was much better.

“Of course I’m a responsible person who always supports a cautious approach, when it comes to safety around roadworks, but closing the sliproad was causing too much hardship for the people of Canvey.

“I’m delighted the new arrangements are in place before all the schools go back, as traffic will obviously become much heavier because of that.”

The roadworks are part of a scheme to change the complicated network of mini-roundabouts at Sadlers Farm.

Once finished drivers will be able to bypass the junction, when travelling between London and Chelmsford.