Carriageway closures at The Bell junction

November 20, 2019 by Leigh-on-sea.com

A weekend road closure and subsequent three-week northbound lane closure at Hobleythick Lane are planned to allow underground electricity cables and gas pipes to be moved before work takes place on improving The Bell junction.

From late on Saturday 23 through to the early hours of Monday 25 November, the electricity distribution company UKPN will be laying new electricity cables across Hobleythick Lane, requiring a road closure. During this time, a diversion will be clearly signposted. 

Then, from Monday 25th November until Friday 13th December, one of the northbound lanes on Hobleythick Lane will be closed off from Midhurst Avenue up to The Bell junction traffic lights, whilst the gas pipe diversion works are undertaken. The work will consist of digging up the footway and re-routing the gas pipes. This work forms part of the future Bell junction improvement works.

Whilst these works are ongoing, traffic management systems will be monitored to reduce congestion. Vehicles will still be able to turn left onto Prince Avenue, straight ahead onto Rochford Road and right onto Prince Avenue

Bus routes for Arriva - the number 7 and number 8 services - will not be diverted. However, the bus stop on Hobleythick Lane will be suspended whilst works take place.

Peter Geraghty, director of planning and transport, said: “The Bell Junction improvements are part of our continued work to ensure we keep traffic flowing and the economy growing. 

“We have a rapidly expanding airport and work progressing well on the construction of the Airport Business Park, so we need to plan not only for today’s traffic levels but to ensure our roads are fit for the future”.

“In August, Cadent carried out a number of checks on the underground pipes to better prepare for when the works begin, and following those inspections, have highlighted specific pipes that need diverting. We apologise in advance for any disruption caused, but I must reiterate that these works are vital to our plans for enhancing The Bell junction.”

For more information on the project, please visit www.southend.gov.uk/thebell or you can call 01702 215408. You can also receive updates about works at The Bell junction by following @BetterSouthend on Twitter.