Travel Advice

To help you plan your journey, we'll use this page to share important travel information whenever major roadworks, highway improvements or traffic disruptions may affect travel to and around Southend.

Current Travel Update: Queensway Improvement Works

As part of the Better Queensway project, the southbound carriageway on Queensway is closed from Monday 21 September until Friday 9 October 2026 (approx.) while new drainage infrastructure is installed.

The closure affects the section of Queensway from just after the Southchurch Road exit to just beyond the Whitegate Tunnel. A signed diversion route is in place via Southchurch Road and Southchurch Avenue.

During the closure, contractors will also be carrying out repairs and vegetation pruning within the central reservation. The Whitegate pedestrian crossing will remain open throughout the works.

Visitors travelling to Southend are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and check the latest updates before travelling.

Recommended Routes to Popular Destinations

Despite the Queensway works, Southend remains open and accessible. To help you avoid congestion and reach your destination as easily as possible, we recommend the following routes:

Shoebury East Beach, George Street, Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS3 9AD

• From Tesco Extra (Prince Ave, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 0JP)

• Follow Prince Ave/A127.

• Straight over the traffic lights at The Bell pub.

• Take 2nd exit at the roundabout onto Priory Crescent and follow the road onto Eastern Avenue.

• Continue on Eastern Avenue straight over the next two roundabouts onto Royal Artillery Way.

• At the roundabout go left onto Bournes Green Chase.

• Continue on Bournes Green chase (over mini roundabout).

• At the next roundabout (which has Angel pub on it), take the 1st main exit onto Poynters Lane.

• Continue on Poynters Lane.

• Turn right onto Wakering Road.

• Straight over the lights onto High Street.

• Turn left onto George Street.

Nearest station - Shoeburyness (C2C)

Nearest car park - Shoebury East Beach

Thorpe Bay Beach and Roslin Beach Hotel, Thorpe Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 3BG

• From Tesco Extra (Prince Ave, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea SS0 0JP)

• Follow Prince Ave/A127.

• Straight over the traffic lights at The Bell pub.

• Take 2nd exit at the roundabout onto Priory Crescent and follow the road onto Eastern Avenue.

• Continue on Eastern Avenue straight over the next two roundabouts onto Royal Artillery Way.

• At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Thorpe Hall Avenue.

• At the sea front (Thorpe Esplanade) turn right for the Roslin Beach Hotel, Thorpe Bay Beach and towards Southend City Beach or turn left for Thorpe Bay Beach and towards Shoebury East Beach.

• Nearest station - Thorpe Bay (C2C)

Nearest car parks - Thorpe Esplanade, Southchurch East Park,

The Roslin Beach Hotel (for customers of the hotel and restaurant only)

City Beach (Sea Life Centre, King Pins, Adventure Island and The Pier), Eastern Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 2ER

• From Tesco Extra (Prince Ave, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 0JP)

• Follow Prince Ave/A127.

• Straight over the traffic lights at The Bell pub.

• Take 2nd exit at the roundabout onto Priory Crescent and follow the road onto Eastern Avenue.

• Continue on Eastern Avenue straight over the next roundabout.

• At the next traffic lights turn right into Bournemouth Park Road.

• Continue on Bournemouth Park Road until reaching Southchurch Road.

• At this set of traffic lights go straight over onto Southchurch Avenue.

• Continue on Southchurch Avenue to Marine Parade.

• At the traffic lights:

• Left for Sealife Centre.

• Left towards Thorpe Bay Beach, the Roslin Beach Hotel and Shoebury East Beach.

• Right for Adventure Island, King Pins, The Pier and the Genting Casino.

• Right towards Chalkwell Beach and Leigh on Sea.

• Please note, for Shakedown on Monday 6 April, there may be specific routes/diversions that will need to be used.

Nearest station - Southend Central (C2C), Southend Victoria (Greater Anglian)

Nearest Car parks - Eastern Esplanade, Seaway, Chancellor Road, The Royals, Alexandra Street, Clarence Road, Tylers Avenue, York Road

Chalkwell Beach, Chalkwell Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 8JJ

• From Progress Rd junction of A127 (Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea)

• Follow Southend Arterial Rd/A127 onto Prince Avenue.

• Go straight over traffic lights at Kent Elms.

• At the next traffic lights turn right and continue until turning right into Westbourne Grove.

• Continue on Westbourne Grove to the end.

• At the traffic lights at London Road, turn slight left and then straight across onto Chalkwell Avenue.

• Continue on Chalkwell Avenue.

• Turn right onto Chalkwell Esplanade.

Nearest station - Chalkwell (C2C)

Nearest car park - Chalkwell Esplanade

Leigh-on-Sea Station (for Old Leigh/Leigh Broadway), Belton Way East, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 2ET

• From Progress Rd junction of A127 (Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea)

• From Arterial Road/A127, turn right onto The Fairway.

• Continue on the Fairway.

• At the traffic lights turn right onto Eastwood Road North.

• Continue on Eastwood Road North onto Eastwood Road.

• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit (Eastwood Road).

• At the lights turn right onto London Road.

• Turn left onto Salisbury Road.

• Turn left onto Hadleigh Road.

• Turn right and then immediate left onto Belton Way East (down the hill).

• At the roundabout, continue straight to stay on Belton Way East. Leigh on Sea station is on the left.

• For Old Leigh, take the 1st exit at the roundabout onto Belton Gardens.

• Turn right onto Belton Bridge.

Nearest station - Leigh on Sea (C2C)

Nearest Car Parks - Leigh on Sea station, Belton Gardens North, Belton Bridge, Victoria Wharf