Priority One

Priority One - Changing the face of Essex’s road network

We are investing an additional £25 million into maintenance projects across every district, city and borough in Essex to tackle the issues that matter to you.

Worn roads and paths, overgrown vegetation, tired signage and faded lines all impacts the look and feel of our local area and how we feel about the place we live.  

Our home, and creating a nice place to be is, for many of us, our highest priority.

Priority One is our single largest additional investment into highways maintenance, with up to 180 resurfacing schemes taking place across the county and enabling more crews to be out on our roads.

What works will be taking place?

Across our 5,000 miles of road network, our teams are out every day working to tackle critical maintenance projects, such as tackling potholes. It is important you continue to report any issues to us.

Priority One allows us to do more, focusing on road resurfacing, drain cleaning, repainting white lines, cutting back vegetation and repairing signs. Schemes will be taking place in every district and borough across the county with details below on upcoming works.

How your money is being invested into your highway network

Essex County Council is responsible for the local road network (with National Highways responsible for larger roads like the A12 and M11). We hope, in the future, to see your vehicle tax distributed back to local government so we can invest this into our roads, but this currently goes into central government funds.

So, funding for highways comes primarily from your council tax, as well as any additional funding made available by Government.

This year we have budgeted for £39 million for our annual resurfacing programme.

On top of this, we announced in February that £12 million of additional funding would be spent including £8 million for extra crews to prioritise repairs raised by local councillors and £2 million for Local Highways Panels to deliver large schemes, freeing up existing budgets for small schemes. Through strong financial management, we are now well placed to create a mid-year funding boost, with the £25 million Priority One campaign focussing on additional schemes across the county.

Recently completed re-surfacing works

In recent days, we were in Laindon and Harlow delivering resurfacing schemes to help tackle road issues that we know frustrate you. A selection of images from these works, alongside those previously completed, can be viewed in the below slideshow.

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Before works on High Road, Laindon

After works on High Road, Laindon

Before works on High Road, Laindon

After works on High Road, Laindon

Before works on High Road, Laindon

After works on High Road, Laindon

Before works on High Road, Laindon

After works on High Road, Laindon

Completed works on Paringdon Road, Harlow

Completed works on Paringdon Road, Harlow

Completed works on Paringdon Road, Harlow

Completed works on Paringdon Road, Harlow

Completed works on Epping New Road, Buckhurst Hill

Completed works on Epping New Road, Buckhurst Hill

Completed works on Epping New Road, Buckhurst Hill

Completed works on London Road, Great Notley

Completed works on London Road, Great Notley

Completed works on London Road, Great Notley

Completed works on London Road, Great Notley

Completed works on The Gladeway, Waltham Abbey

Completed works on The Gladeway, Waltham Abbey

Completed works on The Gladeway, Waltham Abbey

Completed works on The Gladeway, Waltham Abbey

Completed works on Rookery Road, Ingatestone

Completed works on Rookery Road, Ingatestone

Completed works on Rookery Road, Ingatestone

Completed works on Rookery Road, Ingatestone

Before works on High Road, South Benfleet

After works on High Road, South Benfleet

Before works on High Road, South Benfleet

After works on High Road, South Benfleet

Before works on High Road, South Benfleet

After works on High Road, South Benfleet

Before works on High Road, South Benfleet

After works on High Road, South Benfleet

Before works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

After works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

Before works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

After works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

Before works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

After works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

Before works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

After works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch

High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch

High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - Before works

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - After works

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - Before works

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - After works

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - Before works

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - After works

Works in Latchingdon

Works in Latchingdon

Works in Latchingdon

Before works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

After works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

Before works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

After works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

Before works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

After works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

Completed works on Colchester Road - Eastways, Witham

Completed works on Colchester Road - Eastways, Witham

Completed works on Regina Road, Eckersley Road, Chelmsford

Completed works on Regina Road, Eckersley Road, Chelmsford

Before works on Link Road, Canvey Island

Completed works on Link Road, Canvey Island

Machine surfacing works on the A104 Robin Hood Roundabout, Loughton

Machine surfacing works near the A104 Robin Hood Roundabout, Loughton

Machine sufacing works on Langford Road/Holloway Road, Heybridge

Machine sufacing works on Langford Road/Holloway Road, Heybridge

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Recently completed vegetation clearance works

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Before and after works on Cherry Orchard Drive, Rochford and Writtle Road, Writtle

Before and after works on Thorpe Road and Valley Road, Clacton on Sea

Before and after works on Pond Roundabout, Heybridge and Hall Road, Rochford

Before and after works photos from Ghyllgrove, Basildon and Chelmer Road, Chelmsford

Before and after works photos from Southend Road, Galleywood and London Road, Harlow

Before and after works photos from High Road, Laindon and Ferry Road, South Benfleet

Before and after works photos from Passingford Bridge Roundabout, Stappleford Abbotts and Haverhill Road, Steeple Bumpstead

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Upcoming works

We are working to identify schemes across the county. These are at different stages, some require permits to work on the road, some require design work to be undertaken and some are ready to go. The following provides the latest on the works coming up for this week.

Road resurfacing

• Limebrook Way Roundabout, Maldon. Due to start on 16/12/2024.
• Daleside Gardens, Chigwell. Due to start on 17/12/2024.
• Furtherwick Road/Eastern Esplanade. Due to start on 17/12/2024.
• Mundon Road, Maldon. Due to start on 18/12/2024.
• Sladburys Lane, Holland on Sea. Due to start on 19/12/2024.
• Church Lane, North Weald Bassett. Due to start on 20/12/2024.

Works completed so far

A total of 309 vegetation clearance schemes have been carried out so far.

43 road re-surfacing schemes have also been completed through the Priority One campaign. A full list of these schemes can be seen in the table below.