A number of congestion-busting schemes, totalling £11.8M, have been announced by Essex County Council.

The authority announced 19 individual projects, with every district/borough seeing at least one scheme to reduce waiting times at junctions and traffic hotspots. Initiatives include the widening of some junctions to reduce pinch points and accommodate traffic more efficiently, the installation and revision of signals, relocating and operating pedestrians more efficiently to cope with actual demand, and the direct control of some signals from the Essex Traffic Control Centre to ensure better traffic flows.

The schemes are one the key pledges of the EssexWorks programme that was launched in February by Essex County Council to improve the quality of life across the area.

Cllr Norman Hume, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: ‘Congestion costs the Essex economy in excess of £250M a year, and these schemes will help reduce that. ‘This is just the beginning, and next year, I hope to announce further congestion-busting schemes to build on this solid start.’