OVERNIGHT road closures will be in place for up to six weeks while work takes place to create extra lanes on the A130.

A third lane will be created in both directions on the carriageway between Rettendon and Howe Green, with roadworks starting in August.

The work has been triggered as part of a contract between Essex County Council and CountyRoute, which built the road, opening in January 2002, and continues to manage it.

The contract stated that a third lane would be added once 50,000 cars used the stretch of road in a single day, a landmark which was reached last year.

Overnight road closures will be in place from 8.30pm to 6am from August 1 onwards, for approximately four to six weeks.

Only one direction will be closed at any one time with diversions clearly signposted along Main Road and Southend Road.

Annual resurfacing works have been bought forward so they can be undertaken at the same time to minimise disruption to the members of public who use the road.

As well as resurfacing, other works such as lining and sign installations will be undertaken along with other planned routine maintenance to fully utilise the road closures whilst they are in place.

Carriageway closures will be suspended for V Festival, from August 19 to 21, to help support the anticipated increase in traffic that weekend.

Rodney Bass, county councillor responsible for infrastructure, said: "This is very much a planned scheme, triggered under our agreement with CountyRoute, and to be constructed under the terms of that agreement earlier than expected because of higher than anticipated volumes of traffic.

“It is relatively easy to deliver as we had the foresight to make provision for this in the original design and layout of this road.

“We will be using mainly night-time closures to ensure minimal disruption for road users.”