SOUTHEND: £25m scheme to improve borough is “on track”

All four schemes are part-funded by cash from the Department for Communities & Local Government.

They all have to be delivered by March 2011 or any unspent cash is clawed back – leaving the Council to fund the remaining work and local tax payers to foot the bill.

Junction widening work started recently at Progress Road – one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in the town – which will see an extra lane added to both carriageways of the A127.

A cycle lane is also being incorporated into the junction improvements in a bid to encourage more people to use pedal power on their daily commute.

Junction improvements and utility works are also continuing at the Cuckoo Corner roundabout, where an extra third lane is being added at Priory Crescent and the A127 Prince Avenue .

State-of-the-art traffic signals will soon be installed which will the council says will save motorists excessive journey times.

Work is also continuing apace at Victoria Gateway Square , where the existing junction is being transformed to provide better links between Southend’s commercial and retail sectors.

The new temporary carriageway at Queensway is now under construction and is nearly ready for traffic to use.

There is currently no right turn from Victoria Avenue into Queensway east and traffic is being channelled to the westbound A13 via a signed diversion.

The bus stops outside Southend Victoria train station have been re-located outside the Central Museum on Victoria Avenue.

Phase One of the City Beach development on the sea front is now complete and the carriageway has been reopened to two-way traffic.

Work is now underway on Phase Two, which will see the creation of new toilets and a water fountain, improved paving and kerbing and the installation of stunning new lighting masts.

Councillor Mark Flewitt, Executive Councillor for Planning and Transport, told longpier.com:

“I am delighted that we are on course to complete these four projects on time.

“The aim of the Better Southend initiative is to make Southend a better place to live, work and play and I truly believe these schemes will succeed in that aim.”

For further details and progress updates on the four schemes visit the Better Southend website at http://www.bettersouthend.com/

The schemes have faced criticism and protest from several quarters – most notably the Cuckoo Corner demonstrations earlier this year, and the chopping down of trees at Victoria Circus.