Roadworks that closed the A13 at Tarpots Junction, Benfleet, have finished ahead of schedule and the carriageway will reopen at midnight on Tuesday, utility company Cadent has confirmed.
Scope and reason for the closure
The closure, in place 24 hours a day since 25 July, was necessary to replace 800 metres of gas pipe which Cadent said was around a century old. The work had originally been due to continue until 15 August.
Cadent spokesperson Stephanie Van Rosse said engineers had anticipated potential difficulties at the junction which did not materialise, allowing the project to be completed sooner than planned.
"We thought there might be a blockage there or the pipe might have kinked slightly so a full excavation would have been required, but that wasn't the case,"
She added that crews were able to insert the new gas pipe into the old one "quite smoothly, so it saved us a lot of time." Carl Williams, Cadent's head of investment delivery, said the team had worked "extremely hard, 24 hours a day" and that the engineering technologies used had performed better than anticipated.
Ongoing disruption and local effects
While the A13 closure will be lifted, motorists should be aware that a separate road closure on Croft Road at the junction with High Road will remain in place until 30 August.
- Location reopened: A13 at Tarpots Junction, Benfleet — restrictions lifted from midnight on Tuesday.
- Work carried out: replacement of 800m of gas pipe dating back around 100 years.
- Remaining closure: Croft Road (junction with High Road) until 30 August.
The closure of the A13 had caused lengthy delays for drivers and created difficulties for some local businesses. Cadent said the early completion should help restore traffic flow and ease pressures on nearby streets used as diversion routes during the works.
| Event | Date / Detail |
|---|---|
| Start of A13 closure | 25 July — 24‑hour closure |
| Planned end date | 15 August |
| Actual reopening | Restrictions lifted from midnight on Tuesday |
| Croft Road closure | Continues until 30 August |
Road users are advised to follow local signage and the instructions of traffic officers while residual works and traffic management arrangements are cleared. Motorists and businesses affected by the works should consult the council and Cadent communications for updated travel information and any further notices.
The earlier finish follows other instances where modern installation techniques have shortened expected disruption, but it will not remove the need for continued monitoring of the site while ancillary works conclude.
This office will continue to monitor any further traffic or local economic impacts arising from the works and will report updates as they are confirmed.
