MULTI-MILLION pound improvement works to the bottleneck A13/M25 junction will start in the new year.

The £55million plans will see the A13 through the junction widened to four lanes in each direction, and sliproads to and from the M25 will also be improved.

The work is expected to start by March.

The Highways Agency announced yesterday the work will be carried out by Balfour Beatty and Skanska in a joint venture, with preliminary work already under way, with average speed cameras of 50mph being introduced on January 5.

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle Price said she has been fighting for improvements to the junction since being elected in 2010, and is delighted to see that work is nowgoing to start.

She said: “This improvement was demanded by the business community in South Essex since 2006.

“It was postponed by the Highways Agency who wished to see the upgrade as part of the new Lower Thames crossing investment.

“By widening the A13 we will get the traffic moving and end the bottlenecks which cause so much congestion and misery on our roads.”

She went on to say, though, that if the proposed Lower Thames Crossing was to come through Thurrock, the junction would have to be amended once again Ms Doyle-Price added: “This improvement is more than adequate for the road network we currently have.

“If anyone claims what we have is not sufficient for a new Lower Thames Crossing, they are making the case for the new crossing to go through Thurrock. I remain resolutely opposed to that.”

The junction and the A13 directly serves the Port of Tilbury and DP World superport, and is a key entry point to Thurrock and South Essex, but often suffers from congestion at peak times.

Commenting on the awarding of the works contract, Highways Agency project manager Lizzie Pauling said an important step in making this vital upgrade a reality.

She added: “Improving this busy junction will deliver real benefits for the many thousands of drivers who use it every day, and help unlock multi-billion pound regeneration for the Lower Thames Valley.”