THE firm responsible for delivery a major overhaul of one of south Essex’s busiest junctions has refused to confirm a completion date five years into the project.

In 2017 Essex County Council drafted in contracting company Balfour Betty to fix defects at the Sadlers Farm roundabout following a bungled £60 million project to replace the notorious “magic roundabout”.

To this day, work – which is being funded without extra cost to the taxpayer – is still ongoing, with no definite end in sight.

Balfour Beatty has claimed work would be finished this Spring as recently as December 2021.

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Now the firm says works will be completed “later this year” but bosses have refused to confirm an exact date.

Southend councillor Steven Wakefield, responsible for highways, transport and parking, said: “These works have been some of the most contentious and long drawn out I have ever known.

“I do travel through there quite a lot, as do many of our residents, and I will be greatly relieved to finally see them completed once and for all to prevent traffic slowing down through that junction.”

Southend is a unitary council and has control over maintenance of its roads, whereas the rest of south Essex – excluding Thurrock – is reliant on County Hall for road repairs.

Basildon councillor Kerry Smith says the project is proof the borough should break-away from ECC which he claims cannot be trusted to deliver on major projects.

“While this roundabout is in Castle Point, it is vital to Basildon’s businesses and workers and the traffic chaos is harming us, he said.

“For too long we have suffered as a result of this project. It’s time for us to move on from ECC, it’s past its sell by date and is a dysfunctional model.”

A Balfour Beatty spokesperson said: “Whilst significant progress has been made towards the resolution and replacement of bridge bearings on two bridges, these works are now scheduled to complete later this year.

“We remain committed to reducing disruption to the travelling public and the local community, wherever possible, and would like to thank the public for their ongoing cooperation as we work towards fully reopening the road. All remedial works are being undertaken at no cost to the taxpayer.”