Preliminary works on the main contract for the northern section of the new A130 from Chelmsford to the south of the county are due to begin on Monday.

The nine kilometre section, from the A130/A12 interchange at Chelmsford to the Rettendon Turnpike at Battlesbridge is being built for Essex County Council under a private finance initiative by the consortium CountyRoute.

The northern section effectively runs between one quarter and one half of a mile to the west of the existing A130, bypassing Howe Green and Rettendon.

Improvements to the Turnpike junction are included.

A statement from CountyRoute said: "We will do our best to ensure the work causes minimum disruption.

"However, we advise road users to allow extra time for their journeys at peak times, as some delay may be caused, particularly at the Rettendon Turnpike end."

The northern section should take two years to complete. Together with the southern section - a public inquiry into the proposed route of which, from the A132 to the A127, has just started - the total cost of the road will ultimately be about £100 million.

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