HIGHWAYS bosses are set to close a road for repairs just weeks after authorities came under fire for making it a diversion route.

Essex County Council are set to close America Road just outside Earls Colne next month.

Highways authorities will close the road on July 5 for carriageway patching work and fixing potholes.

The road then isn't expected to reopen for five days until the end on July 9.

The single lane road has seen controversy in recent weeks due to it being made a diversion route.

With road closures on Tey Road due to water and sewerage connection works, traffic was redirected past Chalkney Wood and down America Road.

This was despite calls from Halstead county councillor Chirs Siddall who felt the road required urgent repairs and was not yet fit for use.

During the closure, many residents complained about the state of the road with some elderly residents admitting they were too scare to drive while using the road.

Residents also claimed HGV's using the small road exacerbated the damage creating more potholes and deepening the ones already there.

But now council bosses are attempting the patch the road to repair the damage.

The road will be closed from its junction with Coggeshall Road to its junction with Tey Road.

An Essex Highways spokesman said: "The closure is scheduled to commence on July 5 for five days.

"The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while carriageway patching works are undertaken by Essex County Council.

"An alternative route is available via Coggeshall Road, Upper Holt Street, Tey Road and vice versa.

"Access for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained at all times during the closure."