Highway engineers are hoping to start major repair works on the busy A127 on March 1.

There had been concerns workmen would not be able to begin the overhaul until the end of March.

But today highways area manager south Roger Gardner said the £1 million works should start at the beginning of the month.

He said: "We are going through the bids of various contractors at the moment and we should have decided on one by the end of next week.

"Once we have decided on the contractor it will just be a question of making various arrangements before the work actually starts.

"We should be able to start work in March, hopefully on the first."

Lanes from the Rayleigh Weir roundabout to the Fairglen junction with the A130 will be closed while the repairs are carried out.

But Conservative councillor Ray Howard (Canvey West ward) said the overhaul was vital to maintain the road which takes thousands of commuter cars every day.

Mr Howard said: "According to a survey 67,000 cars use the A127 every day.

"It is a very busy road and the repairs will be a major job.

"I would like to see the repairs done as quickly as possible, but we must also get them right.

"If this means delaying the work to a time when there are longer hours of light and there are more advantages to carrying out the work in March, then I do not object."

The work is expected to last about four or five weeks. Essex County Council is planning to work with various utility companies, such as gas, water and electricity, to ensure they are not working in the area at the same time in an attempt to minimise traffic problems.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.