A NEW road could be built to bypass one of the A127’s busiest stretches, Essex County Council has suggested.

Highways officials are suggesting a whole new road to ease congestion between Dunton and the A127/A130 Fairglen interchange, just outside Rayleigh, with the aim of halving journey times.

County Hall is hoping the new Conservative government will look favourably upon the scheme, which was first mooted in the Nineties.

A report on the scheme suggests average travel times between Dunton and the Fairglen junction could be cut from 13 minutes to seven.

It says: “Previous studies on delay cost, show that a full cost-benefit ratio analysis would give a significant positive return on a seven-minute saving for as many as 70,000 vehicles per day.”

Paul Bird, the county council’s director of highways and transport, said: “The last time a Basildon bypass was considered and consulted upon, was in the Nineties, when the road was a trunk road, maintained by the Highways Agency.

“No work has been undertaken on this in recent times, although it would have the advantage of separating out local traffic from longer-distance traffic and could assist growth in the area.

“It might also allow substandard stretches of road, such as the former Fortune of War roundabout, to be bypassed.

“We are talking to the district and borough councils in the area about their growth proposals and the impact on the long-term function and performance of the A127.”

However, the news was greeted with alarm by Basildon Council leader Phil Turner.

He said: “I don’t like the sound of a by-pass. It strikes a bit of horror in my heart.

“The A127 is broken and it needs major investment – improving traffic lights and junctions aren’t enough. The A12 has been given three lanes, but it feels like we’re the poor relation.

“I would prefer a third lane over a trunk road, cutting through the borough. It’s the first I’ve heard of it in three years of being council leader.”

County Hall set out its strategy for the A127 last year, highlighting the fact the road was taking an average of 70,000 vehicles a day – a similar amount to that carried by many motorways.

In conjunction with Southend Council, the county council successfully bid for £35million of Government cash to improve junctions on the A127.

This will be spent adding extra lanes and slip-roads at the Fairglen, Nevendon, Kent Elms and Bell junctions