One lane of the new A130 by-pass is now complete.

Good progress is being made on the by-pass construction, following delays which were caused earlier by the bad weather.

Once completed, the new by-pass will run from Chelmsford down to the A130 just south of the A127. The north section of the road at Rettendon is nearing completion, with one lane already finished.

Work to clear the land to the south is under way. A spokeswoman for Essex County Council said: "We estimate the northern section will be finished in the early new year."

The council has appointed County Route to design, build, fund and operate the new bypass road over the next 30 years.

Turning point - the construction work at the Rettendon Turnpike is moving ahead

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.