LONGER green lights and a simplified road layout is set to tackle rush hour congestion into and out of Chelmsford.

A new road layout along Parkway is set to be the first of a package of schemes to help keep the city moving.

After a successful consultation period, 16 of these projects were nominated to be taken forward as part of the £15million package of improvement works, known as the Chelmsford City Growth Package.

These projects are about to move in to construction with all projects scheduled to be completed in 2021.

The County Council have insisted that “Parkway is the key corridor through the heart of the city, providing an east-west route extending from the Army and Navy roundabout into the city centre for workers, shoppers and visitors.”

Councillor Kevin Bentley, cabinet leader for infrastructure at Essex County Council, said: “It is important that we do everything we can to keep traffic flowing in Chelmsford, and while we are looking very seriously at the longer-term solution for the Army and Navy junction, the Parkway schemes are a great example of the opportunities we are taking to keep traffic flowing smoothly in the short term.”

Work is scheduled to begin on the improvement schemes on Monday at a number of key locations on Parkway, between the Army and Navy roundabout and the junction with Victoria Road South.

Work will include a simplified road layout for those heading from the Army and Navy roundabout into the city.

A third lane will be created at the Odeon roundabout as well as improvements to High Bridge Road and Manor Road in the city centre.

Longer green light traffic signals at the London Road and Parkway junction, as well as junction enhancements, aims to help traffic flow.

The proposals will help reduce journey times to and from the city centre and improve road safety by simplifying the road layout and keeping traffic signals on green for longer.

Updates on the latest information on the Parkway schemes can be found on the website www.essex.gov.uk/chelmsfordtransport.