New figures have revealed journey times on the A120 double during rush hour – leading one campaigner to dub it “no more than a country lane”.
Data released exclusively to our reporter shows the extent of the traffic problem along the stretch of road between Marks Tey and Great Notley.
Up to 25,400 vehicles use the road each day according to the report released by Essex County Council.
Outside of peak times it takes a driver travelling from the A131 junction to the A12 on average just 16.4 minutes to make the 12.8 mile journey, and 16.8 minutes in the opposite direction, which is 0.2 miles longer.
But in the evening rush hour the same journey takes almost twice as long – 30.8 minutes eastbound from Braintree to Marks Tey.
Westbound, Marks Tey back to Braintree, is busier in the morning rush hour, with journeys taking on average 24.5 minutes.
Average speeds are, of course, also reduced.
Traffic crawls eastbound at 25mph between 5-6pm on weekdays, and at 32mph westbound between 8-9am, but averages 46.5mph during the rest of the day.
Much of the route has at 60mph limit – with the exception of the Earls Colne junction section which is 50mph, Bradwell and Marks Tey which is 40mph, and the dual carriageway sections of the Braintree bypass which are 70mph.
George Kieffer, chairman of the Haven Gateway Partnership which has led the campaign to have the A120 dualled, said: “We have known for years that journey times are often doubled at peak times and this will only confirm people’s impression of the A120 as no more than a country lane.
“These figures are a stark reminder of the problems businesses and residents face when forced to use the A120.
“We look forward to having our say on bringing the A120 into the 21st Century when the consultation opens in January.”
The report sets out that by 2024, the entire Marks Farm to Marks Tey route will be over capacity in the morning rush hour, with most of it also full at the evening peak. Only the Braintree bypass will be able to cope with anticipating traffic increases up until 2033.
Rodney Bass, Essex county councillor for infrastructure until this week, added: “The A120 and A12 projects are of huge importance to local communities to support prosperity and continued investment in the region.
“Both projects aim to improve safety and journey times which, as I am frequently told by communities, are greatly needed on both roads.”
A Suffolk business leader said not improving the A120 would cost jobs.
Mike Drain, chairman of the Suffolk Federation of Small Business (FSB) and who runs Superb Airport Transfers, said: “To get to Stansted is crazy. Our vehicles have done 16,000 miles in the last six weeks.
“Every time I get a delay that’s letting my client down, costing me money for the driver, wasting fuel and pushing up CO2 emissions.
“These – the environmental factors – are sometimes things we forget about.
“What about all these businesses who want to expand in Ipswich and Felixstowe, distribution firms? They get into their lorry and hear on the radio the A14 is blocked – what do they do next?
“If we don’t drive forward improvements we are putting jobs at risk and stopping microbusinesses from being able to develop.
“We have seen companies move to the Northampton area because they have not been able to get warehousing here because of the infrastructure. But the A120 strikes me as having a lot of potential for distribution centres – and that creates jobs.”
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