DRIVERS have spoken of further A127 road misery as work this month starts on a series of junction improvements, costing tax payers more than £7 million.

Works, which intend to ease congestion at the Kent Elm and Victoria Avenue junctions is set to begin on Monday, and roll into May next year Southend Council has announced.

Taxi driver Tino Callaghan, also a councillor for Prittlewell ward on Southend Council said the developments will cause further delays on an already cumbersome road.

He said: “I’m well aware of these developments and I’ve been against them since the plans were unveiled.

“what we’re going to see here is the addition of more traffic lights, and the town is already overburdened with traffic lights, it’s a nightmare.

“Night time especially is a problem. Often you’ll be sat there at a red light when there isn’t anybody else on the road – it feels pointless.

“This development is a waste of government grant which could be better spent elsewhere.”

From Monday, the council`s highways contractor, Eurovia, is scheduled to start a package of small junction improvements along Victoria Avenue by first extending the right-turn lane from Victoria Avenue into East Street.

it will also begin widening the Kent Elms junction.

Ralph Morgan, 72, a spokesman for the Basildon Hackney Carriage Association often has to take passengers from Basildon to Southend.

He said: “That round is horrendous as it is with these additional roadworks, especially in rush hour, I just don’t know how people put up with it.

“Of course these developments are going to cause further delays.

“Already, if someone gets in my cab at Basildon Station and say they want to go to Southend, I just think ‘oh God no.’

“Also, if passengers say they need to go to Southend it can cost up to £40 if the traffic’s bad, that could easily cost more with these developments going on.”

But in a statement to the Echo Southend Council vowed to keep disruption to motorists and neighbours to a minimum.

It also said there are no planned lane closures during peak commuting hours or at weekends.

Councillor Tony Cox, whose portfolio includes transport, waste and cleansing, said: “These projects are another piece in the jigsaw to better managing current and future demand on our road network.

“As a growing town with a successful airport and new business parks in the pipeline, it is vital that we have the infrastructure in place to support our ambitions. Over the past few years, we have improved key junctions on the A127 at Cuckoo Corner, Progress Road and Tesco.