A major section of the A12 is set to be resurfaced early next year a £500,000 project.

The Highways Agency has agreed to re-lay the northbound carriageway around Kelvedon.

The works are scheduled to take place in either February or March 2015.

Confirmation of the works was made by the agency’s chief executive Graham Dalton in a letter to Witham MP Priti Patel, who had been lobbying for the resurfacing.

Ms Patel said: “This is great news for users of the A12 who will benefit from these improvements.

“Anyone who regularly drives along this stretch of road as I do will know of the poor quality of road surface and the impact this has on their journeys.

“I am pleased to have campaigned for this work to take place.

“For too long our roads have suffered from underinvestment, despite them being vital economic routes for local and national trade.

“This announcement will make a positive difference and I will be campaigning for more improvements along the rest of this road and other roads in Essex.”

A Highways Agency spokesman said: “The A12 Kelvedon resurfacing scheme is part of our routine road renewals and maintenance programme. It was identified in 2013 for action in 2014/15.

“The scheme covers about 3,000 square metres of surfacing, with an estimated scheme cost of £500,000.

“We are currently planning to start work before the end of March 2015 and will keep road users informed as soon as we have further details.”

A three-month £983,000 Highways Agency scheme to install average speed cameras at Kelvedon, between Rivenhall End and Easthorpe, is set to begin this November.

Rodney Bass, county councillor for highways and transportation, added: “I entirely endorse the remarks and excellent initiative shown by Ms Patel in relation to these works now to be carried out by the Highways Agency.

“We shall continue to work with her very closely to get further improvements to, and maintenance of, the A12 and other parts of the trunk network in Essex.”