Essex and Suffolk MPs have called on the government to help fund a new rail-road crossing between the two counties due to concerns about traffic and increased housing demand. The A137 Essex-Suffolk crossing, known as the Manningtree road underpass, is the main link road between north east Essex and south east Suffolk, says the Harwich and Manningtree Standard.

The road was described as the “worst bottleneck in Essex” in 2016 by county councillor Garlo Guglielmi.

The road, which is to the east of the A12, has a level crossing on an embankment and an underpass restricted to a single lane and vehicles under nine foot six inches.

Harwich and North East Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin and South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge have written to the transport secretary Heidi Alexander asking for an initial meeting to discuss the issue.

Sir Bernard said now Greater Anglia has been take into public ownership, the funding for this project will have to be approved by the Department for Transport.

“While Essex County Council is installing traffic lights to try to manage traffic flows more effectively, this will make little difference to the regular and chronic congestion which occurs at peak times: when commuters are arriving at or leaving Manningtree station and during home-school runs. Traffic backs up across the border into Suffolk and up the A137 Cox’s Hill, causing severe delays.

“Increased housebuilding in the area is adding traffic volumes. This is unsustainable.”

Sir Bernard said there is a clear need for a new rail-road crossing which would have no height restriction and likely a full-width underpas, adding that this would require a new rail bridge over a new stretch of road to be created under the railway.

“The scale of this project is likely to require a substantial capital sum far beyond what any S106 money could provide. Now that Greater Anglia has been renationalised, there is only one source of funding that can cover this, and that is central government”

The MPs said this vital investment would create a significant economic boost to the “vast and underutilised” Brantham Industrial Estate as well as prevent the area’s routine gridlocks and asked for a further plan to provide capital and a timeline for the project.

A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council confirmed they would be supportive of seeing an improvement at the Manningtree rail crossing. 

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said as this is a local road it would be a matter for Essex County Council.

(Picture: Mapillary)