Damaged traffic light cables at a busy A127 junction are adding to already-long tailbacks, it has emerged.

Southend Council is said to be looking at installing thermal imaging technology at the Bell junction after phasing of the lights was affected by damage to cables caused by work on underground services.

Contractor Cadent is working on gas pipes ahead of a major road widening scheme.

The work originally entailed the closure of Rochford Road northbound but one lane of the A127 has also been taken out of action causing tailbacks to the Tesco roundabout.

Now it seems traffic light phasing is adding to motorists’ woes, with lights turning green for Southend-bound traffic only for very short spells.

A spokesperson for Southend Council said: “The works being undertaken by Cadent at The Bell junction, mean that cutting through the traffic signal loops is unfortunately unavoidable due to the depth of the digging required.

“Traffic signal engineers have attended the site and are monitoring the junction to ensure it is running as efficiently as possible. We are working with our contractor to install overhead cameras that use thermal imaging technology.”

Southend businessman Paul Thompson said: “I got stuck travelling out of Southend twice over the weekend at the Bell, as did thousands of other visitors.

“This unnecessary congestion was caused as the contractors had cut the loop cables which control the traffic light timing. The result being lights were only green for a few seconds before turning red again.

“This was particularly disappointing as there were no council highway officers on duty to notice this and rectify the problem.”

But yesterday, the gas company said it was unaware of any damage.

A spokeswoman said: “Cadent is diverting a gas pipe at the A127 Bell Junction in Southend to enable a road-widening scheme to go ahead.

“We are not aware of any damage to the traffic lights. As far as we are aware they are functioning normally.”

The council commissioned the work on underground services to take place before work started on the junction to avoid a repeat of delays during a road widening scheme at the Kent Elms junction. The work there was delayed by months of work to repair damaged and wrongly laid pipes and cables.