£15 million boost for Fairglen Interchange

Work is set to get underway on long-awaited improvements at the A127/A130 Fairglen Interchange after the Department for Transport announced it is investing £15 million in the project.

The new funding is in addition to the £38 million Essex County Council is investing in the junction. The South East Local Enterprise Partnership is also investing £6.2 million.

The upgrades will help to future-proof the junction. This is needed due to further housing developments in the area and increased traffic. It is expected that 60,000 new homes will be built in south Essex by 2043.

The scheme will include:

• a dedicated off-slip link road between the A130 and southbound A1245
• a dedicated left-turn from the A1245 towards Southend A127
• widening of westbound A127 off slip
• installation of a foot and cycleway crossing/bridge on the south side of Fairglen roundabout
• widening and improvements to the Rayleigh Spur roundabout

Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport, said: “The improvements to the Fairglen Interchange have been long awaited, so I’m very pleased we’ve reached this important milestone with DfT confirming their cash injection so Essex County Council can go ahead and appoint contractors and get work started.

“This project is vital to unlocking future growth in south Essex and easing congestion for those that regularly travel in this area, including improving access for those who walk and cycle.”

Now the additional funding is confirmed, Essex County Council will appoint a contractor to carry out the works.

Construction will start shortly after this and is expected to take around two years.