Motorists are warned to prepare for long delays as a £500,000 roadworks programme gets under way today in the Braintree district.

Some road surfaces are being replaced to improve skid resistance and reduce tyre noise.

The improvements are taking place following a road safety study carried out last year into the A131 Braintree to Sudbury route.

Temporary traffic lights will be put up on Bradford Street, Braintree, and Head Street, Halstead, two main town centre roads, which could cause delays in both towns.

Ron Williams, Essex County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation, said the A131 works programme is one of the biggest road projects currently ongoing in Essex, only outweighed by ongoing improvements to the A12 at Brentwood.

Mr Williams said: "Half a million pounds is a huge amount of money, but the surveys have been done and it is clearly needed.

"I do have concerns about delays and I get as frustrated as anybody, but you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs, there is no way we can carry out works of this importance without causing some inconvenience."

Mr Williams asked drivers to remain patient while the roadworks are carried out and to expect delays and leave plenty of time for journeys.

Published Monday, January 13, 2003

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