A major milestone in the transformation of Queensway has been reached with Sutton Road and Southchurch Road now open.
The roads are open to drivers and pedestrians, while some pavement areas are still being completed as part of the final finishing works.
The reopening represents a significant step forward in reshaping the area, improving connections through the town centre and supporting the wider vision for the city.
The milestone has also provided an opportunity to celebrate the people who helped build the original Queensway in the 1970s, including former concrete finisher Ken Waller.
Ken worked on the construction of Queensway around 1975 and remembers being part of a team of apprentices and experienced tradesmen working together to create what was then considered a modern solution for Southend. During his career, Ken worked across several sites in Southend, giving him a detailed understanding of many of the city's major construction projects and how the area developed over the years.
One of his strongest memories is the installation of the original bridge. Ken recalls watching the bridge being lifted into place in a single operation by what he describes as the biggest crane he had ever seen, brought to Southend from Scotland. Even more than 50 years later, he is able to recall remarkable details about the work that took place on site, the people involved and the challenges of delivering such a significant project.
Over the years, Ken has continued to take pride in the role Queensway played in serving local communities. He remembers how residents initially needed encouragement to use the new underpasses and routes created as part of the scheme, with site teams helping people adapt to the significant changes.
His daughter recently contacted the project team after hearing stories throughout her childhood about her father's work on Queensway, where he helped lay thousands of the cobbles that became a distinctive feature of the area, and his insistence that his family always use the underpasses rather than crossing busy roads.
Ken Waller said: "Working on Queensway felt like helping to create a new, modern future for Southend. I still remember the day the bridge was lifted into place by the biggest crane I had ever seen. It was a moment none of us would ever forget.
"I worked on a number of sites across Southend during my career, but Queensway was one of the projects that always stayed with me. Even now, more than 50 years later, I can remember so many details about the work we did, the people I worked alongside and how the whole project came together.
"What makes me most proud is that Queensway was built by hardworking people, from young apprentices to experienced tradesmen, all learning and building together. We weren't highly paid workers, just ordinary people doing our best to create something that would serve the community for generations.
"I'm surprised and honoured that my small part in that story is being recognised today. We were just hardworking young men doing our jobs and trying to build something that would last. To think people are still talking about Queensway more than 50 years later makes me very proud."
Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: "As we celebrate the opening of Sutton Road and Southchurch Road, it is important to recognise the people who helped build the original Queensway.
"Ken's story reminds us that this area has always been about creating opportunities and improving connections for residents. We are proud to honour that legacy while delivering a Better Queensway that will help shape Southend's future for decades to come."
The opening of Sutton Road and Southchurch Road marks an important first milestone for the Queensway project, with further work continuing as part of the long-term transformation of the area.