DRIVERS are facing a three mile diversion to avoid a 500m stretch of town centre road which is set to be closed for roadworks.

Essex County Council plans to close part of Balkerne Hill across to allow for upgrades to traffic lights.

The pelican pedestrian crossing allowing walkers to move between Crouch Street is set to be replaced by a puffin crossing.

As part of the plans 545m of the northbound side of the road will be closed for two nights between the Maldon Road roundabout and Middleborough roundabout.

A final date is yet to be confirmed but it is expected to take place on September 12 and 13.

Work will take place between 7pm and 5am, with the noisiest work done before 11pm to allow residents nearby to sleep.

There will be no access to St Mary’s car park - which is open 24 hours a day - for the duration of the works, however, people will still be able to exit the car park.

A second set of roadworks will see the southbound side of the road closed for two nights on September 24 and 25

But drivers trying to avoid the shut road will be sent on a diversion which will add three miles to their journey.

They will be sent via Lexden Road, London Road and Cymbeline Way to the Spring Lane roundabout.

The official diversion then gets motorists to continue on Cymbeline Way via Colne Bank Avenue and Westway before arriving at Middleborough.

The diversion will work in reverse for the second closure.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “Much of the work can be done off the road itself but the work to install ducts and loops means the road will be closed, done at night to avoid causing significant congestion.

“Access by road for residents of St Mary’s Fields estate will be via a guided convoy from a holding area between the closure just beyond the Crouch Street entrance and the works area at the current pedestrian crossing.

“Careful consideration has been given to the existence of other road works in Colchester during this period, particularly the A133 improvements at Ipswich Road to Harwich Road roundabouts.

“Because of the night working only at Balkerne Hill and the distance between them, it is extremely unlikely the two sets of works will have any significant effect on traffic at the other whatsoever.

“Formal diversions always have to include only roads of a similar capacity for vehicle types, however, local car and van drivers particularly will know more local alternatives. “

For more details visit roadworks.org.