ONGOING works to construct Colchester’s new rapid transit system are causing nearby homes to “shake and crack”, a frustrated homeowner has claimed.
Work started on the scheme, which will connect the city’s Park and Ride station near the Northern Gateway to Essex University, earlier this year.
Lanes have been closed on Northern Approach Road for weeks while work continues on the system, which will have priority over other forms of transport with a dedicated lane.
A frustrated resident on a nearby development has claimed “houses have been shaking and cracks are appearing on walls” because of the roadworks.
They fear the area surrounding the roadworks will become “uninhabitable” and that the value of the affected properties will be negatively impacted.
Essex County Council, the authority responsible for the city’s roads, has acknowledged the concerns and confirmed monitors are in place to prevent issues.
A council spokesman said: “Monitors have been set up to track vibration levels on Northern Approach Road and ensure they don't exceed specific limits. However, we are aware there are some concerns about the works.
“The contractor will liaise directly with anyone concerned.”
It is not the first time Colchester residents have criticised the new scheme.
In September, a frustrated driver claimed it took them more than an hour to drive one mile from the city’s Asda supermarket to nearby Mile End Road because of traffic congestion caused by the roadworks.
The roadworks have also caused complaints after drivers fell foul to bottlenecks in Greenstead and the Hythe, where work is also being undertaken to prepare Colchester for the new scheme.
What is Colchester's rapid transit system?
The rapid transit system will have stops along its route, delivering services every few minutes and connecting residents with destinations like the hospital, train station, city centre, and university.
In the future, it will connect to a proposed new garden community in the east of the city, near Elmstead Market, where as many as 9,000 homes could be built over the next 20 years.
The system is part of a £99million package which includes a link road connecting the A120 and A133.
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