THE A120 is being pushed past its operating capacity, a new report has found.

The Traffic Summary Note A120 has been produced by Essex County Council to look into traffic congestion on the A120 corridor between Braintree and the A12 and try and determine the reasons for the notorious delays, particularly around the Marks Farm roundabout and the Marks Tey junction.

Figures show that traffic on A120 can delay expected journey times by up to 47% for commuters.

One reason suggested for the delays is a lack of capacity on the bypass and the junctions meaning they struggle to cope with the amount of cars, which can range between 21,400 and 25,400 vehicles every day.

The study states that action is neeeded soon, as with Braintree being identified as a key growth area for the county, the usage of the road will only continue to increase.

The report states: “The volume of traffic is starting to overwhelm junctions and push the road past its operating capacity.

“By 2024, it is estimated that the corridor between Braintree and the A12 will be operating well over capacity.

"The vision for Essex is for a transport system that supports sustainable economic growth and helps deliver the best quality of life for the residents of Essex.

"Braintree Town is identified as a main town and a future growth area.

"Colchester is a regional centre and Stansted Airport and the ports at Harwich and Felixstowe are located nearby.

"The traffic issues need to be addressed to achieve the vision for Essex for a prosperous future."

The report also summarises what it believes the potential impacts would be if the road is not addressed in the near future, with constraints being put on future growth, the impact of accident being exacerbated and increased time and cost for residents to travel to work all mentioned.

Highways England has asked Essex County council to lead on the work to help determine the way forward, and the council says it wants to work with people in Essex to find a solution.

A set of options could be put forward by the end of December, before a public consultation in Spring 2017.

To view the full report visit: a120essex.co.uk/traffic-summary-note.