A PARLIAMENTARY candidate is lobbying for the Government to renew one of the “worst bypasses in the region” by 2025.

Sir Bernard Jenkin has voiced his concerns over the state of the road from Horsley Cross to Ramsey, known as the Wix bypass, to Government ministers in recent months.

Sir Bernard, who is Harwich and North Essex’s former MP and current Tory candidate, said he has already raised the issue with the Secretary of State for Transport, the Chancellor, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport.

Sir Bernard said: “This is one of the worst roads in the region so I am lobbying for the renewal of this section of road.

“My target is to have it completed by 2025.”

Highways England recently completed a £400,000 project to repair some of the concrete bays on the Wix bypass in October.

A Highways England spokesman said: “Longer term, we know that many of the region’s concrete roads are approaching the end of their design life and we are developing a programme to repair and renew them.

“This is a major piece of work and will need to be carried out over 25 years.

“We will schedule and carry out the work in the best way possible.

He added: “Our current proposed concrete pavement renewals programme includes work on the A120 Wix bypass.

“The exact extent, phasing and timescales for this are being developed.”

He said the works need to be carried out as many concrete roads were built in the 1960s and 1980s, and they have exceeded their original design life.

The plan for renewal of concrete sections of the strategic road network is being developed on a national basis.

This will enable Highways England to deliver the programme in an “efficient way that minimises disruption to road users”.

He added: “Despite the noise on this section, the Wix bypass is safe to drive on.”

The other Harwich and North Essex candidates known to be running for the parliamentary seat include Richard Browning-Smith (Ind), Mike Beckett (Lib Dem) and Stephen Rice (Lab).