WORK on £3.25 million scheme to tackle congestion and road safety between Colchester and Clacton starts on Monday.

Essex Highways will carry out improvements to the Frating and Weeley roundabouts along the A133, and the Crown Lane junction near Weeley.

It is part of a strategy to improve safety, reduce congestion and improve journey time reliability.

Essex County Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership will fund the improvements and documents have been submitted to the county council’s planning team.

Safety improvements will be made between the Frating roundabout, where Main Road and Colchester Road meet, and the Progress Way roundabout.

There are six roundabouts along the A133, the main route between Colchester and Clacton.

The proposed scheme for the Frating roundabout includes providing a left turn slip lane from Spur Road to Colchester Road, and entry onto the roundabout will be increased to two lanes from Colchester Road east and west.

A report to Essex County Council said: “Works will not require any land take outside of the highway boundary.

“The proposed works would encroach on surrounding highway grassland and scrub verges to accommodate the widening of the carriageway on each arm of the roundabout.

“The character of the proposed scheme is in keeping with the scale and use of the existing

land.”

The Weeley roundabout joins the A133 from Colchester in the west and Weeley in the east.

It provides the main access route to Frinton and Clacton.

The plans are to increase the northern approach to two lanes with “stacking capacity” for at least 37 cars.

There will also be a re-alignment of the A133 junction with Crown Lane to prevent cars making right turn from Crown Lane.

Essex Highways said works are due to start on Monday and there may be some disruption.

They are being carried out by Jacksons Civil Engineering and should be completed by the spring.

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “Throughout the various phases of the scheme, temporary traffic management will be necessary and lane restrictions will be in place to support the works.

“Overnight closures may be required at different stages and locations along the route, however, these will be limited and advertised in advance on site signage.

“Residents and businesses directly affected by the works will be contacted separately.”