WORKS will start on widening a road to two lanes this week.

Contractor Eurovia is working with Essex County Council to create two single roundabouts at Ipswich Road and Harwich Road, replacing the double mini roundabouts.

Eurovia said they would be starting construction on “various parts of the scheme” as early as Tuesday.

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “A key part is to widen St Andrews Avenue between the Ipswich Road roundabout (near Waitrose) and the Harwich Road roundabout so that it becomes two proper lanes in each direction.

“This work is to move the kerb line back on the north (Waitrose) side of the road to make the road wider. The pavement will be almost the same width as it is now, but moved slightly north.

“To do this we have to remove the existing kerb and alter the verge and move the streetlights back. Cones and barriers have to be in place in the road during those works to keep workers safe from the traffic.”

However Harwich Road will be closed for an ANOTHER week due to gas works.

The road has been closed from the junction with Greenstead Road to the roundabout since last month.

Due to a water leak it was to remain closed until yesterday.

However, Essex County Council has now announced it will be closed for an extra week due to gas works.

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “Harwich Road (south) will have to remain closed now until the May 13.

“We had to stop the gas diversion works to allow Anglian Water to urgently find and fix the water leak that was discovered when the gas contractors started digging.”

He added: “The water leak is now fixed and so the gas contractors can get back on site and finish their work but the whole episode has unfortunately resulted in a delay which requires the road to be kept closed until May 13.

“We apologise to everyone using the roads in the area, but there was no alternative once the water leak was found.”