MPs and council bosses have secured a meeting with the transport secretary in a bid to kick-start long-awaited plans to upgrade the A120.

In the summer, leaked Government documents revealed a multi-million pound plan to create a dual-carriageway link road between Braintree and the A12 had been shelved.

The Gazette exclusively revealed the Department for Transport (DfT) was working on a handling plan for informing MPs, councils and the public about the shelving of the project.

The upgrade has been long-anticipated, with plans developed by Essex County Council in 2017 attracting huge investment.

National Highways took over the scheme in 2020 after millions of pounds of council-led investment, pledging to move it forward as one of dozens of ‘pipeline’ roads projects.

Gazette: An early design drawing showing how the upgrade could lookAn early design drawing showing how the upgrade could look (Image: Newsquest)

County Hall had hoped to see a route run from Galleys Corner at Braintree to the A12 to the south of Kelvedon.

But the documents suggest National Highways did not favour this option and was set to announce a different route prior to the shelving of the scheme.

Since the leak, the DfT has remained tight-lipped on the future of the project, insisting no decision has been made.

MPs, including Foreign Secretary and Braintree MP James Cleverly, alongside Witham MP and former Home Secretary Priti Patel, have called for clarity and reassurance around the future of the project.

Ms Patel revealed she has secured a meeting with Mark Harper, Secretary of State for Transport, to discuss the A120 upgrade, as well as a separate scheme to widen the A12.

She said both schemes are key infrastructure projects to ease congestion, improve road safety and support economic growth in the region.

Mr Harper is set to meet with Ms Patel and Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley.

Ms Patel said: “Investing in road infrastructure is vital to support economic growth in Essex and the whole of the east of England.

“The schemes for the A12 and A120 have been promoted for many years and while progress has been made in getting them delivered, more work is needed to address local issues and ensure the final plans are robust and fully funded.

“I am continuing to work closely with councillor Kevin Bentley, local communities and businesses to ensure their views are put to Government and National Highways.”

Mr Bentley added: “I very much welcome the Secretary of State committing to a meeting with Priti and myself to discuss the A12 and A120.

“Essex County Council has been working closely with Priti and local communities over a number of years to get these schemes delivered in a way that benefits us and we will put that case to the Secretary of State.”