A KEY road between Colchester and Clacton is set to get a major upgrade.

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s accountability board has agreed to allocate funds to cover half of the cost of a £5.5 million project to improve the A133.

In total, £2.74 million from the Local Growth Fund will be passed to Essex County Council to deliver the scheme.

The project will feature seven elements including a left-turn slip road from the A120 spur road to the A133 at Frating and a new left-turn slip from A133 east to A133 west.

The other projects include widening Bromley Road to a two lane approach from Colchester, safety improvements at Frating roundabout and Progress Way, Little Clacton, as well as other changes to junction and signage along the route.

Cycle paths will also be improved along the A133 at Salary Brook, including the section from Greenstead Roundabout which provides links and access to the University of Essex and the B1441 which runs alongside the A133 from Weeley to Progress Way, Little Clacton.

Tendring Council leader Neil Stock, who also chairs the Essex councils leaders and chief executives group, said the road improvements were something of a priority for Essex.

He said: “It’s brilliant news and it’s something that is long overdue.

“We’ve suffered for many years but it should speed up everything in Elmstead Market and across the areas in Clacton and Colchester.

“It’s long overdue investment in infrastructure in this part of Essex - it’s just really good news.”