AN ONGOING campaign is needed to ensure pledges to upgrade the A12 are kept. That was the message from North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin after motorists suffered another day of misery on the busy road after a lorry crashed through a central reservation on the road.

AN ONGOING campaign is needed to ensure pledges to upgrade the A12 are kept.

That was the message from North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin after motorists suffered another day of misery on the busy road after a lorry crashed through a central reservation on the road.

The accident happened at about 5am on Saturday between Marks Tey and Kelvedon, but the road was not fully re-opened until 12 hours later.

Saturday's accident left the northbound carriageway totally blocked and the southbound was partially blocked, and police initially closed the road in both directions.

A forklift was used to clear the items from the road, while the central reservation was badly damaged by the crash.

Diversions were put in place and motorists were advised to find alternative routes or delay their journeys.

There has been a series of fatal accidents on the road already this year, and several major incidents in recent months caused massive tailbacks.

The catalogue of incidents has led to fresh calls for urgent upgrades, including widening the carriageway to three lanes and increasing the length of some of the slip roads.

Mr Jenkin said having a dual three-lane carriageway would help traffic flow and increase the chances of keeping some lanes open after accidents.

He said: “About £40 billion is raised from road users each year, but only £8 billion is spent on the roads and that is scandalous.

“It is beyond urgent now for the A12 to be improved. What we need is a road wide enough to take the increasing traffic volume which is safer and the best option appears to be a three-lane carriageway.

Barbara Follett, the East of England Minister, said: “The trunk widening proposals are just totally vital.

“Detailed development work has been undertaken and has identified some initial proposals to widen the A12 to a dual three-lane carriageway between the M25 and Chelmsford.”

But she said last month the funding would have to come from the eastern region, causing anger because many think that, as a trunk road, it should be funded by central Government.