ONE of the main roads into Wivenhoe will be closed while a cycle path is built.

Construction of the Wivenhoe to Essex University cycle path is due to start on Monday.

The £825,000 cycle path, which will start at Wivenhoe fire station and run alongside Colchester Road, was due to be completed this year.

Engineers will need to close the B1028 Colchester Road to traffic from Monday until Friday, December 18. It is understood it will be from Boundary Road to Vine Drive.

It will reopen over the Christmas period to ease congestion, with work beginning again on January 4 and a scheduled completion date of March 31.

It means traffic from Clingoe Hill/Clacton Road will have to access Wivenhoe via Keelers Road or Alresford Road instead.

In addition to the original plans for the £825,000 cycle way, funded by Essex County Council and Essex University, £475,000 is being spent on new drainage, road realignment, crossing facilities, resurfacing and areas of road reconstruction and resurfacing of Colchester Road.

Rodney Bass, councillor responsible for infrastructure at Essex County Council, said: “In reviewing the project it was recognised that we have an opportunity to undertake other measures simultaneously and thereby maximise efficiency and prevent potential unnecessary additional disruption.”

The project has been delayed due to difficulties acquiring the land.

Mr Bass said: “I understand and share the frustration of residents that this project has been delayed.

“The route we are now constructing is the preferred choice following consultation and we have needed to ensure all consents are in place to proceed.

“The scheme has proved to be much more complex with protracted legal issues to be resolved before works could begin.

“However, I am now very pleased to confirm the imminent start with completion scheduled for the end of March next year."