THE entire 3.5 mile length of Colchester’s key traffic route could be widened.

Essex County Council is considering dualling the complete length of the A133 from the Spring Lane roundabout to the Greenstead roundabout.

The proposal was revealed in papers asking Cabinet members to approve a separate multi-million traffic scheme next week.

The A133 links east and west Colchester and includes Cymbeline Way, Colne Bank Avenue, Cowdray Avenue and St Andrew’s Avenue.

Last summer a project to widen Colne Bank Avenue to four lanes was completed, costing around £1.5 million.

A report to the council’s cabinet said officers had considered other ways of trying improve the A133 including upgrading Greenstead roundabout.

But funds and timescales meant “these proposals have been deferred in preference to this scheme”.

On Tuesday, Cabinet members will be asked to approve a £7.8 million scheme at the A133’s junctions with Ipswich Road and Harwich Road.

Two sets of double roundabouts will be replaced with single roundabouts over two years.

Cabinet members will be asked to approve awarding the contract for the work to Eurovia Infrastructure Ltd.

If agreed, work on the scheme could start in May and be completed by spring 2020.

Kevin Bentley, councillor for Infrastructure, said: “The people of Colchester need and deserve a transport network that can cope with rising traffic levels and support both housing and economic growth for years to come.”

The plans have been met with fierce opposition from some cyclists who say the scheme should be abandoned but the council has said the work is needed to ease congestion.

A report to councillors advises: “Doing nothing would lead to a situation where none of the growth options in Colchester could be undertaken without additional significant congestion.”

It adds: “It will also result in a lost opportunity to improve the corridor and put in jeopardy the infrastructure to support the future development and economic growth of Colchester.”