IT’S GRIDLOCK in Burnham as roadworks are causing chaos in the town. 

Residents have been up in arms about the roadworks taking place on Church Road, Burnham, which has three-way traffic lights at the junction with Maldon Road.

Queues of traffic up to a mile long have been reported stemming from the works, which are being carried out by BT Openreach, who are conducting essential fibre cabling works along the road.

Residents have described the scene at the roadworks as “pandemonium”.

Michael Stevens, who lives near the works site, said: “Sometimes it can be flowing fine, the next minute it descends into chaos.

“I was driving up from the Quayside on Saturday, and it took over half an hour to get up to St Mary’s Church. The lights were staying red for far too long and green far too little. ”

Colin Baker, of Regents Court, said: “This is the most vital junction in Burnham where every worker and commuter has to use to get in and out of town. Equally the same for the school runs and school buses.

“Depending on the time of day you could have a 20 minute wait each way. The queue trails back to Tesco near the High Street at certain times. It’s pandemonium.

“I’ve contacted Highways and BT, and they do not seem fussed at all. It just adds to the issues. BT should get massive fines for attitudes and work like this.”

The roadworks began on June 20 and are scheduled to be completed by tomorrow, though Colin added that not a single worker has been seen at the site in the last five days.

He added: “There is minor works done to the pavement. No holes, just an inch deep trench. They have therefore shut off one side of the road for pedestrians with no actual work done on the road.

Glyness Rowell, of Buttercup Way, Southminster, said: “It’s been mad down there all weekend and is causing complete havoc, but I saw absolutely no workmen there during the day.”

Town Councillor Wendy Stamp said: “It’s a disgrace, no work seems to have been carried out since Thursday, and the lights don’t work properly.”

A spokesman for BT Openreach said: “Openreach is carrying out essential fibre cabling works to install around 120 metres of underground ducting and build associated footway boxes.

“We would like to apologise whilst this work is taking place, and are doing all we can to get this completed as quickly as possible.”