Highways bosses have passed information to police after a car drove through a road closure.
Parts of Ipswich Road in Colchester are already fully closed as Essex Highways and Eurovia carry out works to make single roundabouts as part of a £10 million scheme.
Ipswich Road is closed between Fenwick Drive and the Ipswich Road roundabout, on the stretch between St Andrew’s Avenue and East Street.
A one-way restriction was trialled to reduce the impact works would have on the flow of traffic.
However, drivers were risking their lives and those of the workmen by driving the wrong way along the road.
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Now a driver has flouted the full closure and passengers in the car moved barriers, cones and signs to get through.
The incident happened between 9.35am and 9.38am yesterday, March 7.
They then reportedly swore at a worker who challenged them.
A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “The men working in the road yesterday were disgusted, and worried, by the very deliberately dangerous and illegal behaviour of this driver and passengers.
“Road workers have the same rights as everyone else to be safe at work and neither Essex Highways nor the contractors, Eurovia, will tolerate anything that puts them at risk.
“We are very hopeful that the detailed photographic evidence we have passed over will enable Essex Police to take action. We are now considering installing video cameras to catch anyone and everyone who considers that rules and respect for others don’t apply to them.
“Unfortunately this incident follows the unsafe behaviour of several drivers ignoring the one-way closure which meant Eurovia had to urgently close the road completely. Every driver and passenger wants the roads repaired and improvements made to keep up with increases in traffic. We do our utmost to keep up with that work.
“It does sometimes mean temporary inconvenience, but the work we do is for everyone’s benefit. It is never acceptable to put people’s safety at risk for a few seconds of selfish advantage.”
In a Tweet Essex Highways said it had reported the incident to Essex Police along with photos and the car registration.
We have referred this to Essex Police with photos of reg number: car with 5 people drove thru road closure Ipswich Rd (south) #Colchester. Passengers moved barriers, cones & signs. Swore at worker when he challenged them. Thurs 9.35-9.38am Dangerous across ped. xing near workers pic.twitter.com/6JRMzfljvp
— Essex Highways (@essexhighways) March 8, 2019
Parts of Harwich Road are also due to close in April.
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