The councillor in charge of roads in Essex is set this afternoon to announce a £5million boost to the campaign to dual the A120 between Marks Tey and Braintree

Rodney Bass, Essex county councillor for highways and transportation, is expected to make the commitment at an A120 campaign meeting being held this afternoon.

Today’s event, organised by the Haven Gateway Partnership and the county council, is being hosted by MPs Priti Patel, Sir Bob Russell and Bernard Jenkin.

It is hoped the £5m will kick-start efforts by the Highways Agency to launch a design study and consultation leading ultimately to a preferred route for a dual carriageway link between Braintree and the A12.

Mr Bass said: “The A120 is an important strategic route through Essex, from the international port of Harwich through to Stansted Airport, with junctions linking it to the A12 and M11.

“The single carriageway from Marks Tey to Braintree gets heavily congested and has one of the county’s worst pinchpoints.

“Essex County Council has been lobbying for improvements to the A120, which is vital to the county’s economy.”

The Haven Gateway Partnership, backed by Essex County Council, has recently called on the government to back its £10m bid to the EU for funding for a feasibility study for the Braintree to Marks Tey section, as well as safety works at blackspots along the Essex stretch of the road.