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Updated: Southend-bound A127 reopened

THE Southend-bound section of the A127 has reopened after more than 16 hours of repairs to a gas main.

National Grid has confirmed the gas main, which was hit by a contractor replacing a footpath, is now fixed.

Traffic is now allowed along the road which was closed between the junctions of the A1245 (A130) and Rayleigh Weir.

The road was closed at around 10pm last night after a high-pressure gas pipe was damaged by workers.

Why we need to upgrade our roads network - see your Echo tomorrow

8:12am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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Posted by: Michael, Basildon on 8:20am Thu 3 Jul 08
Who the hell would put a gas main under a major route? This has caused absolute chaos this morning. I would like to know who is to blame for this. It's also down to years of underinvestment in the roads network. why should such a densely-opulated urban area like south Essex be with just two ineffective roads? it beggars belief.
Posted by: Simon on 8:25am Thu 3 Jul 08
The same thing happened around the time they started the resurfacing work between the weir and A130 about 5-10 years ago. It was closed both ways then, with the whole area strongly smelling of gas. It has always smelt as you drive past it. They do some work, it goes away then a couple of months later it is back.
Posted by: chris, benfleet on 8:45am Thu 3 Jul 08
does anyone know if they will be opening the a127 today?
Posted by: J on 11:04am Thu 3 Jul 08
I wouldnt bet on it Chris, you know what emergancy works are like, they will find another problem and keep it closed all night again.

This has caused such a big problem on the roads today.
Posted by: Chris, Billeriay on 11:11am Thu 3 Jul 08
There was utter chaos on the A13 roundabout this morning! Where was the Police presence? Are they incapable of displaying initiative and forethought. Nothing moved on that roundabout as drivers , predictably, were jumping the lights and consequently there were no gaps on the roundabout to allow drivers to move onto it and achieve a flow of traffic off the A127. It needed Police Officers there, out of their cars maintaining order and directing traffic. Absolutely pathetic Policing and senior officers are to blame.
Posted by: StevieG, Leigh on 11:23am Thu 3 Jul 08
Its a gas leak...Gas is highly explosive its got to be fixed, as for gas mains under the roads where else can they go apart from under ground how about in pipes overhead...

if you dont have pipes ging under roads how are you going to connect the network as one, having no gas pipes going under roads would mean every block would need its own gas drilling and refining station.
Posted by: cowboycontractors, Southend on 11:39am Thu 3 Jul 08
WHy is everyone blaming the position of the gas pipe. Shouldnt the contractors who hit it be blamed, I mean surely it isnt that hard to see if there is a pipe near where you are digging and avoid it
Posted by: Martin, Rayleigh on 11:49am Thu 3 Jul 08
There's been a strong gas smell on the southend bound approach to Fortune of War - watch this space
Posted by: gt, southend on 12:26pm Thu 3 Jul 08
This is the second morning this week, that the roads in South Essex have been affected by problems of one sort or another. On Monday it was a fatal accident at Standford that closed the A13 and forced everyone onto the A127. This morning it is a gas leak at Rayleigh that closes one carriageway of the A127 and forces people onto the A13. Canvey Island will be virtually cutoff from next week for six weeks due to road works and more congestion is expected on the A13 at Saddlers Farm. Rayleigh High Street closes at the end of July for six weeks and the Eastwood/Rayleigh road has been restricted for what seems like years, with everyone travelling down the A127. When oh when are the local and county councils responsible for these vital arterial routes into and out of one of the busiest areas of the county going to do something constructive about the roads situation. We don't need average speed cameras or road restrictions, we need proper roads capable of taken the amount of traffic on them now and with the capcity for the future. We need proper alternative routes in the event that such incidents as this morning occur and we need people to accept that the car will not go away but is a fact of life.
Posted by: wellblowme, Anywhere but here on 12:46pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Martin wrote:
There's been a strong gas smell on the southend bound approach to Fortune of War - watch this space
I smelt the gas last night on my way home Martin. It's roughly half a mile from the fortune of war chicane in the same place as the lorry accident last week.
Posted by: Steve, Leigh on 12:58pm Thu 3 Jul 08
gt wrote:
This is the second morning this week, that the roads in South Essex have been affected by problems of one sort or another. On Monday it was a fatal accident at Standford that closed the A13 and forced everyone onto the A127. This morning it is a gas leak at Rayleigh that closes one carriageway of the A127 and forces people onto the A13. Canvey Island will be virtually cutoff from next week for six weeks due to road works and more congestion is expected on the A13 at Saddlers Farm. Rayleigh High Street closes at the end of July for six weeks and the Eastwood/Rayleigh road has been restricted for what seems like years, with everyone travelling down the A127. When oh when are the local and county councils responsible for these vital arterial routes into and out of one of the busiest areas of the county going to do something constructive about the roads situation. We don't need average speed cameras or road restrictions, we need proper roads capable of taken the amount of traffic on them now and with the capcity for the future. We need proper alternative routes in the event that such incidents as this morning occur and we need people to accept that the car will not go away but is a fact of life.
Give planning permission for more flats!!!
Posted by: LJK, Canvey on 1:19pm Thu 3 Jul 08
gt wrote:
This is the second morning this week, that the roads in South Essex have been affected by problems of one sort or another. On Monday it was a fatal accident at Standford that closed the A13 and forced everyone onto the A127. This morning it is a gas leak at Rayleigh that closes one carriageway of the A127 and forces people onto the A13. Canvey Island will be virtually cutoff from next week for six weeks due to road works and more congestion is expected on the A13 at Saddlers Farm. Rayleigh High Street closes at the end of July for six weeks and the Eastwood/Rayleigh road has been restricted for what seems like years, with everyone travelling down the A127. When oh when are the local and county councils responsible for these vital arterial routes into and out of one of the busiest areas of the county going to do something constructive about the roads situation. We don't need average speed cameras or road restrictions, we need proper roads capable of taken the amount of traffic on them now and with the capcity for the future. We need proper alternative routes in the event that such incidents as this morning occur and we need people to accept that the car will not go away but is a fact of life.
If we all think it's bad now, what on earth will happen when the new Thames Gateway port opens at Corringham in a few years!!
Posted by: Shrimpers till i die, Southend on 1:25pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Totall agree that a police presence at the sadlers farm roundabout area would have really eased things this morning.

It took me 3 and a half hours to get from south woodham ferris to southend airport this morning.
Posted by: samii, grays on 2:41pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Shrimpers till i die wrote:
Totall agree that a police presence at the sadlers farm roundabout area would have really eased things this morning. It took me 3 and a half hours to get from south woodham ferris to southend airport this morning.
i agree it took me from 7am till 10.30 to get from basildon a127 to hullbridge..
hope the contractors will get a good telling off....
Posted by: TJ, Basildon on 2:57pm Thu 3 Jul 08
wellblowme wrote:
Martin wrote: There's been a strong gas smell on the southend bound approach to Fortune of War - watch this space
I smelt the gas last night on my way home Martin. It's roughly half a mile from the fortune of war chicane in the same place as the lorry accident last week.
That smell has been present there for literally more than 10 years.
Posted by: Mr Blobby, Canvey on 3:11pm Thu 3 Jul 08
An outrage to society. On-going problems with A13/A127. Us muppets that live in Canvey Island will have nothing but greif in the next coming week dues to "bridge maintance". We should all have courtasy boats as an alternative transport. Build another frigen road
Posted by: guy, Leigh-On-Sea on 3:45pm Thu 3 Jul 08
cowboycontractors wrote:
WHy is everyone blaming the position of the gas pipe. Shouldnt the contractors who hit it be blamed, I mean surely it isnt that hard to see if there is a pipe near where you are digging and avoid it
contractors don't care they just stic the drill or bucket in and make a mess, goodness knows what problems/tailbacksth
e gas work road closures in Rayleigh High Street will.
Posted by: Help on 3:45pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Help is the a127 still shut southend way??
Posted by: APR, Benfleet on 3:45pm Thu 3 Jul 08
chris wrote:
does anyone know if they will be opening the a127 today?
It opened again at about 3pm
Posted by: APR, Benfleet on 3:47pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Didn't take long to get to Southend this morning. Lovely to go up to Progress road with no queues.
Posted by: ShipShape, Basildonk on 4:01pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Around 3pm it was clear from the M25 to Nevendon.
Posted by: wellblowme, Anywhere but here on 4:20pm Thu 3 Jul 08
TJ wrote:
wellblowme wrote:
Martin wrote: There's been a strong gas smell on the southend bound approach to Fortune of War - watch this space
I smelt the gas last night on my way home Martin. It's roughly half a mile from the fortune of war chicane in the same place as the lorry accident last week.
That smell has been present there for literally more than 10 years.
My mistake, I never realised the smell was the Laindon Chavettes!!
Posted by: cyclist on 12:40pm Fri 4 Jul 08
APR wrote:
Didn't take long to get to Southend this morning. Lovely to go up to Progress road with no queues.
Never takes long to get in and out of Southend; but that's because I choose to cycle the journey :) It's only 15 to 20 miles a day (depending on route) but usually works out quicker than driving.

It's on days like yesterday that you really appreciate riding past all the queues and knowing your journey is still going to take exactly the same time as usual.
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