DRIVERS have predicted traffic misery as the latest stage of the Sadlers Farm junction improvements takes place.

The slip road between Canvey Way and the London-bound carriageway of the A13 will be closed from today as workers continue with the £63million overhaul of the junction.

Motorists fear the road closure will cause tailbacks for drivers leaving the island, who will now be forced to negotiate the Sadlers Farm junction if they want to get on to the A13.

Jeff Brazier, 42, of Thorney Bay Road, Canvey, commutes from the island every day for work.

He said: “It’s bad enough getting on and off Canvey on a good day, so closing that slip road will only make things worse.

“Hopefully it will be a bit of pain for a long-term benefit.

“Once they’ve put in the new bypass it should make that whole junction much quicker to get through.”

The Sadlers Farm improvements will see a new bypass installed to extend the A13 all the way to the Fairglen interchange with the A127.

The five mini-roundabouts are being reduced to one big roundabout controlled by traffic lights.

A dedicated slip road between Canvey Way northbound and the A13 London bound will also be installed.

The existing A13 will be widened to four lanes in both directions between Pitsea flyover and the turn off for the new Sadlers Farm roundabout.

Tracey Chapman, county councillor responsible for highways and transportation, said: “The lane closure is required in order to allow us to complete this phase of the Sadlers Farm improvement scheme, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

The improvements are set to be completed by the spring of next year.