MORE than £500,000 has been earmarked to create a new "attractive and welcoming" gateway into Braintree town centre and reduce traffic.
Two houses on the corner of South Street and Fairfield Road were demolished last November to make way for the revamped road junction, part of developments to regenerate the town.
Work on the junction started last Wednesday.
Councillor Chris Siddall, cabinet member for prosperity and growth at Braintree District Council, said: "I am very happy to see this scheme commence, which will improve the gateway to Braintree for everyone using the South Street/Fairfield Road junction.
"This is a key gateway into Braintree town centre, not only for motorists, but pedestrians and visitors arriving in the town from the train station.
"The work being undertaken will significantly improve the traffic flow, but at the same time will also enable us to create a much more attractive and welcoming entrance to the town."
The space where the two homes once stood is being used to create a new road junction and an entrance to mark the edge of the town centre and to redefine the route from the railway station.
This new gateway will feature trees and additional planting set within a hard landscaped area with seating, with better lighting and metal artwork on the walls.
Braintree District Council says the changes to the road junction will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and improve air quality, while the realignment of the southern end of Fairfield Road will also provide improvements for access to the town centre by bus, making the left turn for buses heading east safer.
The roadworks, costing around £130,000, is being funded by Essex County Council's Local Highways Panel for Braintree, and will be carried out by Essex Highways, a strategic partnership between Essex County Council and Ringway Jacobs.
The purchase and demolition of the South Street properties, along with the work already carried out in this area, means Braintree district council has invested £400,000.
A further £200,000 has been earmarked to improve the B1018 Braintree Road, Cressing, with measures including plans to widen the existing carriageway, create a footpath to link with the existing path at the north of Braintree Road, and install new kerbs.
The scheme was discussed and approved at the Braintree Highways Panel on April 3.
County Councillor Rodney Bass, cabinet member for highways and transportation at Essex County Council, said: "This highly effective partnership working between Essex Highways, the Local Highways Panel and the District Council is producing a much improved junction providing benefits for motorists, passengers and pedestrians alike."
Regeneration projects in Braintree include the £42 million Panfield Lane masterplan, in which 600 new homes, a 6,000-seat football stadium, a community centre and a 36-acre extension to Springwood Drive Industrial Estate are planned.
Other initiatives include the £20 million regeneration of Braintree town centre and a £43 million project to double the Skyline 120 Business Park at Great Notley with an extra 18.5 hectares of development.
