Army and Navy flyover work caused traffic trauma (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Army and Navy flyover work caused traffic trauma

8:00am Thursday 14th February 2013 in News

MOTORISTS were left unable to use the Army and Navy flyover for four days after problems with signs leading up to it.

Essex County Council had to close the Chelmsford flyover between rush hours to carry out maintenance work to a gantry sign.

Delays have been caused during the daytime from Tuesday through to Friday while work was carried out with the single lane bridge only being opened for peak times in the morning and afternoon.

Drivers were able to use the flyover again from Saturday and officials from the county council said they had to close it during the days as it was the only way of solving the problem.

A council spokesperson said: “The Army and Navy flyover has been closed intermittently for safety reasons while highways engineers work to repair a faulty inbound gantry sign.

“Essex County Council has tried to ensure the flyover has remained open during peak hours over the last two days to keep the highways traffic moving.

“We understand how important the Army and Navy flyover is to commuters and we’re doing our utmost to permanently fix this fault. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“Works on the gantry signs will continue in the next financial year as a part of a three-phased programme to modernise the Army and Navy flyover.”

Council bosses agreed on the £450,000 modernisation plan for the much-used flyover two years ago.

The project was split into three phases, the first looking at signs and cabling on the outbound side of the roundabout while the second phase, currently being undertaken, will work on the inbound side.