A three-week road closure on one of Colchester town centre’s busiest roads has caused heavy traffic over a railway level crossing.

Ipswich Road, between Fenwick Drive and St Andrew’s Avenue, is just 100 metres long, but has led to tailbacks into the town centre and towards Mersea.

The recommended diversion route from Essex Highways directs drivers to take a much longer route around town, taking traffic via an extra 12 roundabouts and two miles of driving.

This has led to many road users taking a much shorter diversion of their own - over the busy level crossing on East Street.

The official diversion route takes drivers east along the A133 before going down St Andrew’s Avenue to the Greenstead roundabout.

The diversion continues down Eastern Approach, Colne Causeway and then via Hythe Quay, before travelling down Maudlyn Road and up Hythe Hill and into Barrack Street.

At Brook Street, vehicles can then continue their journey in either direction on East Hill.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “Every road closure has to have a legally-valid diversion. This means that the official diversion, published by the Highway Authority, must include roads that are classified as able to take the same type of traffic as the closed road, for example HGVs or buses.

“There will inevitably be heavier traffic on some other local roads and so slower journeys at times. Road users will of course use their local knowledge and may find their own shorter routes.

“We ask drivers to remain patient, allow extra time and drive legally and carefully at all times.”