Motorists faced long delays and a detour after a crack appeared across the full width of a slip road from the A12.

The section of the Spring Lane slip road leading to the Colne Bank roundabout in Colchester began collapsing yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).

During the evening rush-hour highways staff were on hand, using "police slow" and "accident" signs along the road to slow drivers down so they could safely cross the section.

The break-up - known as an "erupted bay" - was blamed on the extreme heat which had made the road surface expand.

The road had ruptured across its width, leaving a potholed and cracked section for drivers to gingerly negotiate.

It was closed off last night (Tuesday) in preparation for repair work to be carried out.

Today (Wednesday), drivers discovered the Colchester central slip road was still a no-go, cordoned off area.

Long queues built up and some drivers criticised the lack of diversion signs.

They also said there was little prior notification that they would not be able to leave the A12 road at their usual exit.

One said the first he knew that the sliproad was closed was a sign after the previous turn off, meaning it was already too late to do anything about it.

Single file - traffic negotiating the damaged A12 slip road before it was closed for repair.

Picture: TERRY WEEDEN

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