A NEW roundabout on a major trunk road is just weeks away from being finished despite suffering months of setbacks.

Highways England has revealed the new roundabout at Hare Green on the A120, near Great Bromley, will be completed by the end of next month.

Preliminary work started in October 2017, and the first stage of construction began in February last year, which saw drainage runs built and work to join the minor roads.

The turn off to Harwich Road was closed and a number of overnight closures have taken place while building work was carried out.

But it is believed the project has had problems with the design and materials as well as drainage causing delays.

Work was initially expected to finish by the end of 2018, but it was put back until this summer.

Now, with work progressing well, the end is just weeks away.

A spokesman for Highways England said: “Work to complete the new roundabout on the A120 at Hare Green along with the closure of the central reserve gaps at Pellens Corner, Little Bromley Road/Bentley Road junction, is expected to complete by the end of May.”

The new roundabout is being built after campaigners called for improvements at the Hare Green junction to make the danger spot safer.

A report released by Highways England last year revealed there had been 23 recorded collisions causing 52 casualties - with three of those being fatal - in the past five years.

It also stated the majority of collisions have involved right turn manoeuvres to or from side roads.

Fred Nicholls, who campaigned for the roundabout, said: “I’m very very pleased that we are nearly at the end of the tunnel.

“We’ve had different delays and problems but we are nearly there now.

“My own feeling is if the roundabout saves one life it’s worth it, because we’ve had lots of deaths at that junction and hopefully this will now save any more suffering for families and people.

“It’s wonderful news we are going to have a safer road.”

n Fred Nicholls is standing for election to Tendring Council in the Alresford and Elmstead ward for the Conservatives. Other candidates are Solma Ahmed (Lab), Rosemary Heaney (Con), Beverley Maltby (Green), Terry Ripo (Lab), Gary Scott (Lib Dem), Ann Wiggens (Lib Dem).