INVESTIGATIVE work which will be part of plans costing £13.95m for two new slip roads on the A120 will begin next month.

The work is part of the Millennium Way project which has been drawn-up to give much-needed relief to the infamous Galleys Corner roundabout.

It will mean traffic can leave the westbound carriageway and join the eastbound carriageway at Millennium Way and will give better access to Freeport Shopping Village.

On its website, Essex Highways said: "Preliminary investigative works will officially get underway in September 2018 to facilitate the scheme construction; this is expected to take up to six weeks to complete.

"These works may be noisy, however we do not anticipate any disruption to local residents. We will make every attempt to mitigate these affects."

It is being part funded by Braintree District Council, Highways England and Essex County Council and last October a government grant of £4.95m was secured.

The initial work comes as the Braintree Integrated Transport Package consultation get set to begin on Monday, September 10.

It will see information and exhibitions about the plans and other major schemes proposed in the district presented to the public.

The first public exhibition will take place on Saturday, October 6 at the council chamber at Braintree Town Hall from 10am until 4pm.

The second will take place on Friday, October 12 at the Alec Hunter Academy from 11am until 7pm.

Members of the project team will be available to discuss the proposals.