More roadworks misery is set to be piled on drivers as they face having to make a two and-a-half mile diversion because a 70m section of road is closed.

From tomorrow, Essex County Council is closing the southern most section of Ipswich Road, between its junctions with St Andrew’s Avenue and Fenwick Drive for a period of four weeks.

The section of road which will be closed is roughly 70m, however drivers will be sent on a 2.66 mile diversion including have to navigate some of Colchester’s busiest roads in order to get to the other side.

Drivers will be sent east along the A133 before going down St Andrew’s Avenue to the Greenstead roundabout.

The diversion will then take drivers down Eastern Approach, Colne Causeway and then via Hythe Quay.

Next the route will travel down Maudlyn Road before going up Hythe Hill and into Barrack Street.

Vehicles will then go into Brook Street, before continuing their journey in either direction on East Hill.

Gazette:

A map showing the diversion route across Colchester

Although the signposted diversion is more than 2.6 miles, Essex Highways admitted many drivers are likely find quicker alternative routes if they know the area.

A spokesperson said: “Every road closure has to have a legally-valid diversion.

“This means the official diversion, published by the Highway Authority, must include roads that are classified as able to take the same type of traffic as the closed road, for example HGVs or buses.

“Road users will, of course, use their local knowledge and may find their own shorter routes.”

Essex Highways say the diversion will be marked using squares as to make things more complicated, there is also a Highways England diversion in place for night works.

This is due to on-going repair works to sections of the A12 and means drivers will be directed through the town centre and then back on to the dual carriageway.

The works form part of a 15 month scheme, which will see the revamp of the roundabouts on Ipswich and Harwich Road.

Describing the works, a spokesman for Essex Highways said: “The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while water and gas main diversion works are undertaken by Anglian Water and Cadent Gas.

“The works will be carried out during the hours of 7am and 8pm, however, due to safety reasons traffic management is required at all times.

“Some of the works will require noisy equipment and may cause some disturbance,.

“However, we will try and complete these activities when they will cause the least inconvenience.

“Full access will be maintained for residents, pedestrians and cyclists.

Bus routes which are affected will be diverted and temporary stops will be put in place.

The road is set to reopen after around four weeks.