MAJOR alterations are set to be carried out at an A127 junction following concerns a £9million widening scheme is a “danger to motorists”.

The A127 Kent Elms junction was widened to create an additional lane on both sides of the dual carriageway in 2017.

There has been a string of accidents at the junction since the upgrade and councillors have raised concerns over frequent near misses as three lanes merge into two heading towards Southend.

A successful campaign to make the junction safer will now see one lane made a left hand turn only towards Eastwood, with two lanes proceeding straight ahead.

A report to next week’s traffic and regulations working party includes plans to extend the central reservation to stop vehicles doing U-turns onto the London-bound lane.

Kevin Buck, councillor responsible for highways, transport and parking, said: “I am delighted that I have been able to get this temporary trial to committee for approval.

“Having successfully campaigned in 2015/16 to get the pedestrian footbridge put in at Kent Elms, when the junction improvements were being finalised, this issue was also an aspect I lobbied for at the time.

“Many motorists have endured for too long, what is a very unpleasant feeling of being unsafe to navigate through. The dedicated left turn lane east bound will ensure a safe space for left turns only into Rayleigh Road, whilst maintaining two unimpeded through lanes to continue in to Southend, which will remove the need to filter back in to two lanes again.”

The alterations have cross-party support.

Paul Collins, Lib Dem councillor for Eastwood Park Ward, has been calling for changes to the road layout since 2020.

He said: “We knew there was a problem with the design from early days. It is dangerous. I’m glad the officers have brought forward this report for next week. It will make it safer and I think traffic will flow easier because what is happening is cars braking hard as they try avoid each other which pushes it back.”

“This will make traffic flow more efficiently and will be safer. It’s long overdue but I’m very pleased to see that it’s being considered. You see comments on social media when there has been another accident there. The junction as a whole a bit dicey.”

The changes will largely entail changes to signs and road markings suggesting there will be minimal disruption to traffic while the work is carried out.