COLCHESTER MP Will Quince is the latest to call for urgent action on the town's disruptive roadworks.

Highways engineers have begun a 15-month programme to overhaul the junctions of Ipswich Road and Cowdray Avenue and Harwich Road and St Andrew's Avenue.

It will see mini-roundabouts at both junctions become larger, single roundabouts.

But the work has caused major disruption for drivers, businesses and bus operators.

READ MORE: Petition launched to speed up 'nightmare' roadworks

In a letter to Essex County Council highways chief, Kevin Bentley, Mr Quince said: "The resulting congestion over the course of the past few weeks has had a serious detrimental impact on local residents and businesses and the situation has become untenable.

"If this situation was going to only last a few weeks, the residents could find alternatives or tolerate the works in the knowledge that they would soon be completed.

"Unfortunately this is not the case. My constituents and I cannot comprehend why these works will take tow years to complete, although given the reported lack of action at the site, it doesn't surprise them.

"I entirely understand the pressures on local government finances and the resulting need to ensure best value for money when awarding contracts.

"I also appreciate that in requesting that the county council accelerate the works, I am asking the council to incur significant additional costs.

"However, I would ask you to view this request in the context of local residents whose lives are being severely disrupted and local businesses which are seeing a significant detrimental impact wholly due to the works."

Martin Goss, Colchester councillor responsible for transportation, has also written to Mr Bentley.

He said: "It's quite clear that we need Essex County Council to look at the Ipswich Road project undertaking a complete root to branch review of the work scheduling, timescales and communication plan in order to make scheduling changes and speed up the work.

READ MORE: Ipswich Road works are a 'missed opportunity for the town'

"The project is causing major impact across Colchester to the road network, bus services, has impacted the fire service, caused disabled residents issues with crossing in the area - although I appreciate these matters have been looked at immediately - and impacted the income of local businesses. It has also caused major frustration and delays for thousands of residents and people travelling here to work.

"No-one is questioning the need to invest in Colchester's creaking infrastructure but it's how these works are managed during peak construction periods so impact is minimised."

READ MORE: This is why it will take so long to complete £10m Ipswich Road works

Defending the scheme, Mr Bently said: "The scheme has to be done in phases, so that some work to widen lanes can only be done after utility services have been moved, for example.

"We are constantly talking with the main contractor, Eurovia, to see where any traffic management can be improved or where there are opportunities to manage the programme of works to finish in as short a time as possible.

"Please do bear with us, we greatly appreciate the patience shown by road users who understand that for safe working and safe driving we must have the barriers in place in a planned, coordinated way.”