THE long-running saga of the £63million Sadlers Farm roadworks looks set to continue as contractors missed another deadline for the project – placing it 11 months behind schedule.

Thousands of motorists will have to endure up to three more weeks of disruption as contractors Birse Civil missed the final deadline for the project last week.

However, landscaping and additional works to subways may not be completed for several months.

It is the fifth deadline the company has missed since the project started in August 2010, causing misery for drivers who have been forced to endure hours of delays and ongoing road closures.

If the works overrun again to March, it will be a year behind since the project was first scheduled to finish in March 2012.

Bob Russell, 62, of High Road, Benfleet said: “These roadworks have been an ongoing farce for too long, it’s a joke. You just feel like no one is in control of this and no one is being held accountable for it.

“Since most of Sadlers has opened my journey times have been better, but we’re all just sick of having areas being coned off all the time, this bit shut and that bit shut. It’s time they started being fined for this and we got some of our taxpayers money back.”

An Essex County Council spokesperson said: “Sadlers Farm will be fully operational in two to three weeks following a slight delay due to recent adverse weather conditions. Any remaining works on the network will be completed as soon as possible after this, with work taking place off-peak and overnight to minimise any disruption.
 

“Targeted work will also take place in the coming months adjacent to the network, for example landscaping and planting, completion of works to subways, and accommodations works to adjacent landowners. These works will have little or no disruption to motorists.
“Essex County Council would like to sincerely apologise for the completion of this scheme taking longer than expected, and thank local residents for their continued patience."