WORK to widen the A12 is due to start within three years.

The scheme is part of a £1.1billion investment in East of England roads which will begin before 2020.

As part of the plans, a third lane will be added to a 15-mile stretch of the dual carriageway between its junction with the A120, at Marks Tey, and Chelmsford.  A consultation on the plans is set to be launched by Highways England next Monday.

The scheme, which will be completed alongside improvements in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, was initially announced in December 2014, but Highways England bosses have now confirmed the timescale and funding for it.

The move has been welcomed by politicians and business leaders.

David Burch, director of policy at Essex Chambers of Commerce, said: “It is incredibly important to the economy and hopefully this is recognition of the importance of Essex and how integral it is to the UK economy.”

Mr Burch added a survey carried out by his organisation showed businesses are losing hundreds of thousands of pounds as result of A12 delays.

He added: “In fact, businesses are potentially losing clients as a result of it.”

Colchester MP Will Quince said: “This is a key example of how investment in transport can make a huge economic boost for this region and in particular this town.

“We have three key areas in terms of our connectivity - the A12, the A120 and the rail line. If we can get those right, it links us up with London, Stansted, Harwich, Felixstowe and Essex University and we are in a unique place to benefit from that.”

Essex County Council infrastructure boss Kevin Bentley added: “The A12 is a major strategic route and it is critically important for the economy.

“Transport connectivity is something businesses will look at when investing in an area.

“At the moment, the A12 can be a real pinch point and what causes some of that difficulty is the sheer volume of traffic on the road.”

A Highways England spokesman said: “The A12 improvement will relieve congestion, improve safety and boost the economy locally and in the wider area.”

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “These vital schemes in the East of England will not only help relieve congestion, they will also link people with jobs and businesses with customers.”