TRAFFIC lights could be installed to keep a busy slip road safe as highways bosses prepare for higher traffic levels in north Colchester.
Colchester Council documents reveal plans for the installation of traffic lights at junction 28 of the A12 must be approved before highway works related to a new phase of the Northern Gateway project can begin.
The new development could also see a traffic light junction installed at Axial Way, United Way, and Via Urbis Romanae, where there is currently a roundabout.
Land off Axial Way is earmarked as part of the new phase for a new private hospital, medical centre, 75-bed care home, and hundreds of homes, as well as office space and retail units.
'Total car crash'
The council secured £5.5million in funding in 2019 to free up the land, formerly home to Colchester Rugby Club, enabling the development of up to 350 homes.
Cabinet members are set to approve the inclusion of £7.7million in its budget to fund the works needed to enable works to begin, including the works to the A12’s Colchester United turning, at a meeting next Wednesday.
Mile End councillor Martin Goss fears the plans will be a “total car crash” and add to drivers’ traffic woes.
“I understand it could get changed by Essex Highways but as far as I’m aware traffic lights are proposed as a form of control on the junction,” he said.
“As with anything, Essex County Council is totally obsessed with traffic lights. Anywhere they can put them in, they’ll put them in.”
Mr Goss said he is “not a fan of sticking traffic lights everywhere”, citing ongoing traffic issues further along the A12 in Stanway and at the Brook Street junction close to the city centre.
“Essex County Council really needs its head banging on the table and needs a fresh look at its ideas about traffic lights as I suspect this will end up causing more traffic coming off the A12.”
Work is expected to be completed by summer this year, council documents suggest.
It is hoped the changes will reduce tailbacks of traffic joining and leaving the A12 and queues along Axial Way and Via Urbis Romanae.
Essex Highways says the blueprints were designed by consultants working on behalf of the city council.
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