Additional lanes are to be added to the A12 between Hatfield Peverel and Witham, despite the solution being described as a "plaster for a gaping wound".

Members of Braintree Council's Witham area committee last night voted in favour of the £2.3 million development.

The Highways Agency supports the proposal as an interim measure, but to continue to press for a separate link road in the future.

Five existing slip roads on this stretch of the road are not up to current standards, with poor visibility and dangerous junctions.

The scheme for a new link road between Braintree and Witham was adopted by the Highways Agency in 1998, but a public inquiry in 2003 sent this back to the drawing board.

The agency suggested auxiliary lanes as the best value, quick solution.

Hatfield Peverel Parish Council opposed the scheme as they felt it would lead to people weaving faster between the lanes and would not address congestion problems.

Councillors decided it was better than doing nothing.

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Published Wednesday, November 30, 2005

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