Emergency maintenance repairs on sections of Victoria Avenue (A127) and Carnarvon Road are now completed and the road is fully open.
Update: Roadworks are now complete and Victoria Avenue is fully open.
A sunken area of road near Southend County Court on Victoria Avenue was reported overnight on 12 December. Temporary safety measures were put in place, but further investigation confirmed the need for immediate repairs. As a result, Victoria Avenue is closed southbound between East Street and Great Eastern Avenue from 9:30am on Monday 16 December.
It is hoped that the work will be completed by the evening of Tuesday 17 December, but this depends on investigations and the level of repair needed.
While the closure is in effect, the following restrictions apply:
- Southbound traffic is prohibited on Victoria Avenue (A127) between East Street and Great Eastern Avenue.
- Vehicles cannot enter Carnarvon Road from its junction with Victoria Avenue (A127).
- Vehicles cannot turn left from Carnarvon Road onto Victoria Avenue (A127).
A diversion is in place, directing traffic via West Street, West Road, London Road, and Queensway. Access to Great Eastern Avenue remains open for vehicles traveling north on Victoria Avenue.
At the same time, the council has also been made aware that Essex and Suffolk Water is carrying out emergency repairs to a burst water main on Eastern Avenue by the Priory Crescent turn off. These works, managed under two-way traffic signals, are expected to continue until Friday 20 December. Both sets of works are causing delays in the area.
Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of the Council, said: "I want to apologise for the inconvenience these emergency works are causing, particularly so close to Christmas. However, safety has to come first, and these repairs are essential to prevent more serious issues on our roads.
"We understand how frustrating this is for residents, drivers, and businesses, and we're working as quickly as possible to get the roads back open. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we make sure our road network remains safe and reliable."
The Council is monitoring both works and will provide updates where possible.
For the latest information on road closures and diversions, please visit our road closure page.