Work on underpass built to ease traffic for 2012 Olympics STILL grinding on after 12 years

WORK on an underpass built to ease traffic flow for a 2012 Olympics event is still grinding on — 12 years after it began.

Drivers face “nightmare” rush-hour tailbacks every day as repairs continue on the project “rushed” to be ready for the London Games.

It did open briefly in 2012 at the A13 Sadlers Farm junction at Benfleet, Essex — near the venue for the Olympics mountain biking — but highways chiefs then pinpointed a raft of errors.

The road was cut to one lane for remedial work after the Games ended, then reopened to two in 2015, but reduced to one again in 2017 — remaining so ever since and with a reduced speed limit.

Costs on the £60million junction overhaul are said to have topped £200million.

Current works include replacing bridge bearings, upgrading drainage systems and carriageway strengthening.

Electrical engineer Steve Aston, 63, said: “Never mind Olympic records, this must be the longest ongoing roadworks world record!

“They rushed to get it open for 2012 and there’s been issues ever since. To this day, there’s still a lane shut. It’s laughable.

“They don’t even bother with the signs for scheduled completion dates now. There’s no end in sight. At rush-hour, it’s a nightmare.”

Local Tory MP Mark Francois branded the project a “shambles”.

Essex County Council said the works are the responsibility and contractual obligation of construction firm Balfour Beatty — and were being done at no cost to Essex taxpayers.

Balfour Beatty said it was having to operate to a “revised timeline” because the council wanted additional works — but would be finished this year.

It added: “It is unfortunate the programme has been delayed.”