Motorists are being warned not to travel unless their journeys are absolutely necessary after last night’s torrential rain caused chaos on the county’s roads.
This morning the A12 still has two lanes blocked at Margaretting (junction 14) with queues back to Hatfield Peverel (junction 20). Chelmsford city centre is also extremely congested because of traffic diverting through it and the standing water on many roads.
Roads around Billericay are blocked particularly near Mountnessing Road and Old Church Road, where the road runs parallel with the River Wid.
Flooding is also causing long delays on the A127 where the Fortune of War roundabout at Laindon is flooded London-bound, causing long queues. Traffic is passing through the flood water very slowly.
The A414 is flooded at the Four Wantz roundabout in Ongar and there are numerous broken down vehicles causing very long delays both ways. The A414 from the roundabout west towards North Weald was shut earlier this morning to allow emergency services time to deal with the problems.
On the A12 Colchester bypass there is flooding on the London-bound carriageway with queues back into Suffolk and back on to the A133.
Numerous other roads across the county are affected by flooding and standing water – many minor roads are impassable.
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