For years now, I have been pushing for progress to rectify the insufferable traffic issues, alongside Cllr Carlo Guglielmi, Tendring Councillors, and my colleague James Cartlidge MP, who represents the Suffolk side of the Stour.
There is understandable irritation amongst residents who are often caught in the jams that is so often backed up through the town.
Progress has been slow and it is a harder nut to crack than many of us had hoped. The practicalities of major works on the bridge are challenging but there has been a renewed effort across the board to achieve meaningful improvements and to secure both short-term and long-term solutions.
Long-term, there must be a widening of the current underpass, and lowering the level road under the bridge to increase height clearance. This is what they did at Colchester Station some years ago, but it is a huge cost, and, sorry to say, the planning, financing and completion is still some years off. While efforts are underway to make this a reality, more must be done. We cannot simply wait for improvements while residents are left with this intolerable situation, especially at rush hour. I convened a task force with Cllr Guglielmi to get to grips with this issue once and for all, and it remains one of my top priorities to see fixed.
You can find out more about what I've been doing on this campaign below.
