Various road closures have been required since the project started because of the large diameter of the gas main which measures at 18 inches and the scale and depth of excavations required.
Cllr Tony Cox, Executive Cllr for Transport, says: “Whilst there has obviously been disruption caused, I have to commend National Grid for getting on with this major project quickly, to such an extent that they look like they are going to finish nearly four week ahead of schedule.
“Businesses, the emergency services, and local residents have been kept informed by National Grid throughout the process and we have also worked very hard with them to minimise disruption where we can, re-open routes when it has been possible and kept unnecessary closures to an absolute minimum.
“The final stage of works are taking place in the central reservation of the A127 and mean that a daytime lane closure is needed on the A127 Southend-bound for one week.
"However this has been timed to coincide with the quieter half term week when traffic coming in and out of the Borough is greatly reduced. Once that work has been completed by Sunday 30th October, only minor re-instatement works will be needed which may need some further periodic closures, but largely all roads and access routes around The Fairway will be back up and running.”
Further information on final road closures and re-openings
Access to The Fairway from the A127 in both directions will re-open at 8pm tonight (Friday 21st October).
From Saturday 22nd October to Sunday 30th October there will still be periodic closures of the access to The Fairway from the A127, but these will be at night (between the hours of 8pm to 6am) to allow reinstatement works to take place.
In addition, a lane closure of the outside lane on the A127 Southend-bound will start on Saturday 22nd October, and be in place until Sunday 30th October. This has been scheduled to coincide with the quieter half-term week and the daytime re-opening of The Fairway.
The programme is subject to change, although there is not expected to be any further need for major road closures after Sunday 30th October.