Priority One

‘Priority One’ success as targeted programme sees over 400,000 square metres of road resurfacing

01/05/2025

Press Release

Extra highways crews deployed to resurface roads most in need of repair

Priority One, the £25 million investment made by Essex County Council into targeted highway maintenance has finished this month. 128 additional roads were resurfaced – a total of 400,000 square metres.

The 8-month programme was the largest ever additional highways investment made by the council. The funds were used to deliver additional schemes across all 12 Essex districts in the area. It was also used to tackle vegetation clearance, drainage repair, signage improvements and new lining.

‘Priority One’ success as targeted programme sees over 400,000 square metres of road resurfacing

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Priority One - Changing the face of Essex’s road network

From August 2024 to March 2025, we invested an additional £25 million into maintenance projects across every district, city and borough in Essex to tackle the issues that matter to you.

Worn roads and paths, overgrown vegetation, tired signage and faded lines all impacts the look and feel of our local area and how we feel about the place we live.

Our home, and creating a nice place to be is, for many of us, our highest priority.

Priority One was our single largest additional investment into highways maintenance, with 129 resurfacing schemes delivered across the county by additional crews out on our roads.

What works took place?

Across our 5,000 miles of road network, our teams are out every day working to tackle critical maintenance projects, such as tackling potholes. It is important you continue to report any issues to us.

Priority One allowed us to do more, focusing on road resurfacing, drain cleaning, repainting white lines, cutting back vegetation and repairing signs. Schemes took place in every district and borough across the county.

How your money is being invested into your highway network

Essex County Council is responsible for the local road network (with National Highways responsible for larger roads like the A12 and M11). We hope, in the future, to see your vehicle tax distributed back to local government so we can invest this into our roads, but this currently goes into central government funds.

So, funding for highways comes primarily from your council tax, as well as any additional funding made available by Government.

In the financial year 2024/25 we budgeted £39 million for our annual resurfacing programme.

On top of this, we announced in February 2024 that £12 million of additional funding would be spent including £8 million for extra crews to prioritise repairs raised by local councillors and £2 million for Local Highways Panels to deliver large schemes, freeing up existing budgets for small schemes. Through strong financial management, we were well placed to create a mid-year funding boost in August 2024 and did so through our £25 million Priority One campaign which focused on providing additional schemes across the county.

Road re-surfacing works

A selection of images from our road resurfacing schemes can be seen below.

Before works on Crow Green Road, Pilgrims Hatch

After works on Crow Green Road, Pilgrims Hatch

Before works on Crow Green Road, Pilgrims Hatch

After works on Crow Green Road, Pilgrims Hatch

Completed works on Orchard Lane, Pilgrims Hatchr

Completed works on Orchard Lane, Pilgrims Hatch

Before works on Paddock Mead, Harlow

After works on Paddock Mead, Harlow

Before works on Paddock Mead, Harlow

After works on Paddock Mead, Harlow

Before works on Paddock Mead, Harlow

After works on Paddock Mead, Harlow

Before works on Station Road, Harlow

After works on Station Road, Harlow

Before works on Station Road, Harlow

After works on Station Road, Harlow

Before works on Barn Hall Avenue, Colchester

After works on Barn Hall Avenue, Colchester

Before works on Barn Hall Avenue, Colchester

After works on Barn Hall Avenue, Colchester

Before works on Hedingham Road, Bulmer Tye

After works on Hedingham Road, Bulmer Tye

Before works on Hedingham Road, Bulmer Tye

After works on Hedingham Road, Bulmer Tye

Before works on Ronald Road, Halstead

After works on Ronald Road, Halstead

Before works on Ronald Road, Halstead

After works on Ronald Road, Halstead

Before works on The Street, Great Saling

After works on The Street, Great Saling

Before works on The Street, Great Saling

After works on The Street, Great Saling

Before works on Tollgate Drive, Stanway

After works on Tollgate Drive, Stanway

Before works on Tollgate Drive, Stanway

After works on Tollgate Drive, Stanway

Before works on Wheatfield Road, Stanway

After works on Wheatfield Road, Stanway

Completed works on Limebrook Way, Maldon

Completed works on Mundon Road, Maldon

Completed works on Victoria Road, Chelmsford

Before works on High Road, Laindon

After works on High Road, Laindon

Before works on High Road, Laindon

After works on High Road, Laindon

Before works on High Road, Laindon

After works on High Road, Laindon

Before works on High Road, Laindon

After works on High Road, Laindon

Completed works on Paringdon Road, Harlow

Completed works on Epping New Road, Buckhurst Hill

Completed works on London Road, Great Notley

Completed works on The Gladeway, Waltham Abbey

Completed works on Rookery Road, Ingatestone

Before works on High Road, South Benfleet

After works on High Road, South Benfleet

Before works on High Road, South Benfleet

After works on High Road, South Benfleet

Before works on High Road, South Benfleet

After works on High Road, South Benfleet

Before works on High Road, South Benfleet

After works on High Road, South Benfleet

Before works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

After works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

Before works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

After works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

Before works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

After works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

Before works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

After works on Rectory Road, Pitsea

High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - Before works

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - After works

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - Before works

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - After works

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - Before works

Gardiners Lane, Basildon - After works

Works in Latchingdon

Before works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

After works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

Before works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

After works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

Before works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

After works on Maldon Road roundabout, Colchester

Completed works on Colchester Road - Eastways, Witham

Completed works on Regina Road, Eckersley Road, Chelmsford

Before works on Link Road, Canvey Island

Completed works on Link Road, Canvey Island

Machine surfacing works on the A104 Robin Hood Roundabout, Loughton

Machine surfacing works near the A104 Robin Hood Roundabout, Loughton

Machine sufacing works on Langford Road/Holloway Road, Heybridge

Vegetation clearance works

A selection of images from our vegetation clearance schemes can be seen below.

Before and after works photos from Kerridge Close, Great Dunmow

Before and after works photos from Coxs Hill, Lawford and Holmwood Close, Clacton on Sea

Before and after works photos from Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey and London Road, Braintree

Before and after works on Cherry Orchard Drive, Rochford and Writtle Road, Writtle

Before and after works on Thorpe Road and Valley Road, Clacton on Sea

Before and after works on Pond Roundabout, Heybridge and Hall Road, Rochford

Before and after works photos from Ghyllgrove, Basildon and Chelmer Road, Chelmsford

Before and after works photos from Southend Road, Galleywood and London Road, Harlow

Before and after works photos from High Road, Laindon and Ferry Road, South Benfleet

Before and after works photos from Passingford Bridge Roundabout, Stappleford Abbotts and Haverhill Road, Steeple Bumpstead

Works completed

A total of 582 vegetation clearance schemes were carried out.

129 road re-surfacing schemes were completed through the Priority One campaign. A full list of these schemes can be seen in the table below.

Street/location	District/borough	Works carried out
Rectory Road, Little Burstead	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
North Hill, Little Baddow	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
B1417 Braintree Road Roundabout, Gransmore Green	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
A104 Robin Hood RBT, Loughton	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
A1060 Parkway, Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
Cherry Orchard Way RBT, Rochford	Rochford	Machine Surfacing
Link Road, Canvey Island	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
A129 London Road, Rayleigh	Rochford	Machine Surfacing
Langford Road/Holloway Road, Heybridge	Maldon	Machine Surfacing
Main Road, Hockley	Rochford	Machine Surfacing
A414 Maldon Road, Danbury	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
Regina Road/Eckersley Road, Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
B184 Woodside Way Roundabout, Great Dunmow	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
B1137 Colchester Road, Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
B1256 Dunmow Road Roundabout	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
B184 Walden Road, Great Chesterford	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
A134 Maldon Road RAB, Colchester	Colchester	Machine Surfacing
Mile End RBT - A134 North Approach, Colchester	Colchester	Machine Surfacing
A129 Websters Way/Eastwood Road/Daws Heath Road, Rayleigh	Rochford	Machine Surfacing
Colchester Road & Eastways, Witham	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
Patching Hall Lane RAB to Broomfield Road, Melbourne	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
Kings Road, Brentwood	Brentwood	Machine Surfacing
Gardiner's Lane South, Basildon	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Latchingdon Road/Cold Norton Road/Fambridge Road/Palepit Corner RBT's, Cold Norton	Maldon	Machine Surfacing
B1006 High Road, South Benfleet	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
Wantz Road, Writtle	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
Ashlyns, Pitsea	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
B1021 High Street, Burnham on Crouch	Maldon	Machine Surfacing
B172 Abridge Road, Theydon Bois	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
Rectory Road, Pitsea	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
The Gladeway, Waltham Abbey	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
Rectory Road, Pitsea	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Rookery Road, Ingatestone	Brentwood	Machine Surfacing
London Road, Great Notley	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
Epping New Road, Buckhurst Hill	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
Paringdon Road, Harlow	Harlow	Machine Surfacing
High Road, Laindon	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Ronald Road, Halstead	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
Leigh Beck Road/Park Road, Canvey Island	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
Nether Hill, Gestingthorpe	Harlow	Machine Surfacing
Tollgate Drive, Stanway	Colchester	Machine Surfacing
Shernbroke Road and Maynard Court	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
The Gore, Basildon	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Stadium Way, Thundersley	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
Church Road, Thundersley	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
Wooding Grove, Harlow	Harlow	Machine Surfacing
Kresswell Grove, Harwich	Tendring	Machine Surfacing
Paddock Mead, Harlow	Harlow	Machine Surfacing
Wheatfield Road, Stanway	Colchester	Machine Surfacing
Limebrook Way, Maldon	Maldon	Machine Surfacing
Mundon Road, Maldon	Maldon	Machine Surfacing
Barn Hall Avenue, Colchester	Colchester	Machine Surfacing
Furtherwick Road/Eastern Esplanade, Canvey Island	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
Daleside Gardens, Chigwell	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
Sladbury's Lane, Holland on Sea	Tendring	Machine Surfacing
Broadmayne Roundabout, Fryerns	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Kenneth Road, Thundersley	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
A1099 Victoria Road, Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
The Street, Great Saling	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
B1013 Main Road, Hockley	Rochford	Machine Surfacing
B1508 Bridge Street, Bures	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
B1013 Main Road, Hawkwell	Rochford	Machine Surfacing
Crow Green Road/ Crow Green Lane, Pilgrims Hatch	Brentwood	Machine Surfacing
Orchard Lane, Pilgrims Hatch	Brentwood	Machine Surfacing
Colchester Road, West Mersea	Colchester	Machine Surfacing
Hall Road RBT, Rochford	Rochford	Machine Surfacing
Station Road, Old Harlow	Harlow	Machine Surfacing
Hambro Hill/Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh	Rochford	Machine Surfacing
A129 London Road, Billericay	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Queensmere and Parkfields Road, Hadleigh	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
Hedingham Road, Bulmer Tye	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
Heywood Way/Hunt Avenue/Eversley Way/Hilary Close, Heybridge	Maldon	Machine Surfacing
Church Street, Great Baddow	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
St John's Road, Great Clacton	Tendring	Machine Surfacing
Cranbrook Avenue, Thundersley	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
B184 Thaxted Rd, Wimbish + Elder Street	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
Coldnailhurst Avenue, Braintree	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
Tollgate West, Stanway	Colchester	Machine Surfacing
Church Street, Kelvedon	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
Furtherwick Road, Canvey	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
Church Lane, North Weald Bassett	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
B1414 Fronks Road, Harwich	Tendring	Machine Surfacing
B1256 The Street, Rayne	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
B1025 Mersea Road, Colchester	Colchester	Machine Surfacing
B1029 The Street, Ardleigh	Tendring	Machine Surfacing
B1028 Colchester Road/Brightlingsea Rd, Wivenhoe	Colchester	Machine Surfacing
Wash Road, Hutton	Brentwood	Machine Surfacing
A414 Canes Lane, North Weald Basset	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
High Street/South Street, Bradwell on Sea	Maldon	Machine Surfacing
B1033/B1414 War Memorial Junction and High Street roundabout	Tendring	Machine Surfacing
A129 Rayleigh Road, Hutton	Brentwood	Machine Surfacing
Winchester Road, Frinton-on-Sea	Tendring	Machine Surfacing
Woodland Avenue, Hutton	Brentwood	Machine Surfacing
B1013 Hockley Road, Rayleigh	Rochford	Machine Surfacing
A133 Little Clacton Bypass Retail Park roundabout, Great Clacton	Tendring	Machine Surfacing
Coggeshall Way, Halstead	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
Moat Street, Gestingthorpe	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
Walton Road roundabout, Walton	Tendring	Machine Surfacing
Thorpe Road roundabout, Great Clacton	Tendring	Machine Surfacing
B184 George Street/Hill Street, Saffron Walden	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
A1060/A1099 Parkway, Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
St John's Road, Colchester	Colchester	Machine Surfacing
B1052 Little Walden Road, Saffron Walden	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
Station Way, Buckhurst Hill	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
A1321 Broadmayne, Basildon	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Cranfield Park Road RABs, Wickford	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Nether Hill, Gestingthorpe	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
Underhill Road, South Benfleet	Castle Point	Machine Surfacing
Woodham Road RBT, South Woodham Ferrers	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
Andrews Place, Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
A1099 Springfield Road/Bond Street, Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
Rookery Road, Ingatestone	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
Nazeing Common/Waltham Road, Nazing/Bumbles Green	Epping Forest	Machine Surfacing
Kitson Way/West Gate, Harlow	Harlow	Machine Surfacing
B1012 Fambridge Road, Maldon	Maldon	Machine Surfacing
Hall Road/West Street/Bradley Way, Rochford	Rochford	Machine Surfacing
B1051 Chapel Hill, Stansted	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
Rowntree Way, Saffron Walden	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
A130 Colchester Road RAB, Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Machine Surfacing
B1383 Newmarket Road, Great Chesterford	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
B1023 West Street/High Street, Tollesbury	Maldon	Machine Surfacing
Long Riding, Basildon	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Ickleton Road, Great Chesterford	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
B1007 Stock Road Roundabout, Billericay	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Debden Road, Saffron Walden	Uttlesford	Machine Surfacing
White Hart Lane, Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Machine Patching
A176 Roundacre RBT/B1007 Laindon Link/A176 Nethermaye/Southernhay, Basildon	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
A132 Runwell Road, Wickford	Basildon	Machine Surfacing
Panfield Lane, Braintree	Braintree	Machine Surfacing
Street/location	District/borough	Works carried out