Highways chiefs won back nearly £2.5million from designers whose blunders caused delays in a major Canvey road project.

Essex County Council has reached a settlement with Mouchel, which was hired as part of the plans to extend Roscommon Way.

The company’s original design for the base of the road was found to be “insufficient” and new plans had to be drawn up.

The £18.5million Roscommon Way extension, linking Northwick Road to Haven Road, was opened in December 2011, promising to bring more jobs to the island and fewer traffic jams.

It was the first phase in a twopronged road scheme to extend the road all the way to Western Esplanade, creating a third main road across the island.

The design problems with Mouchel started when it was found extra work was needed to support oil and gas pipelines.

Rodney Bass, county councillor responsible for highways, said: “Some way through the Roscommon Way road works, we found this company’s original design for the road foundation was insufficient.

“This meant new plans had to be put forward and work had to be redone. Because of the extra money that had to be spent by Essex County Council as a result, we successfully claimed compensation.

“We are determined to get the best deal for the taxpayers of Essex in every project we undertake.”

The council had the option of rejecting the £2.45million settlement and taking the claim to a tribunal, but decided the offer was reasonable and a tribunal was not in its best interests.

The sum is purely to cover the additional costs of the first phase, and will not go towards future work. Supporters of the Roscommon Way extension hope the extra route will help ease congestion.

County and borough councillor Ray Howard said: “The county council had the option of either stopping the work and changing consultants, or putting their own money into it to get the road finished in the hope they would get it back afterwards.

“I’m delighted they have got some of the money back as it is a step in the right direction and I hope it is going to be spent on the last phase.”