Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly for Monday 8 - Sunday 14 December 2014
The following information summarises the work being carried out this coming week. It is correct as of the above date but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.
New work
A5 Milton Keynes southbound: Carriageway patching works
We are replacing sections of worn-out carriageway on the A5 southbound at Milton Keynes. The works will begin on Wednesday 10 December for two nights and we will work between 8pm and 6am. We will need to close the A5 southbound to safely complete the works and traffic will be diverted along the A422 Monks Way, V6 Grafton Street, Bletcham Way, Watling Street and High Street to rejoin the A5.
A5/H10 Milton Keynes: Resurfacing works
We will be resurfacing the A5 / H10 northbound entry and exit slip roads and the southbound exit slip road at Milton Keynes. Work will start on Monday 8 December for 5 nights. We will work between 8pm and 6am and we will need to close the slip roads to complete the works. Diversion routes will be as follows:
*A5/H10 N/B Entry Slip Road Closure diversion route: Traffic approaching the A5/H10 junction on the A4146 (Bletcham Way) will be diverted onto the A5 southbound carriageway. At the A5/A4146 roundabout junction (junction with Brickhill St) diverted traffic will be directed to join the A5 northbound carriageway and travel north past the A5/H10 junction where the diversion ends *A5/H10 N/B Exit Slip Road Closure diversion route: Traffic travelling north on the A5 from the A5/A4146 roundabout (Junction with Brickhill St) will continue along the northbound carriageway and will exit the A5 via the northbound exit slip to the A5/V6 Redmoor Roundabout. The diverted traffic will join the A5 southbound from the A5/V6 Redmoor roundabout via the southbound entry slip road and travel southbound and exit the A5 southbound carriageway via the Junction A5/H10 southbound exit slip road. Here traffic will access the A5/H10 Roundabout (A4146 Bletchley Way) where the diversion ends *A5 H10 S/B Exit Slip Road Closure diversion route: Traffic travelling south on the A5 towards the A5/H10 junction will continue past the junction on the southbound carriageway until they reach A5/A4146 roundabout (junction with Brickhill St). The diverted traffic will be directed to join the A5 northbound carriageway and travel north and exit the via the Junction A5/H10 northbound exit slip road and access the A5/H10 junction roundabout (A4146 Bletchley Way) where the diversion ends
A14 J36-37, Newmarket: Drainage clearance
We are clearing the drainage system in the central reserve on the A14 between junctions 36 and 37 near Newmarket. We start works on Monday 8 December and plan to finish them by Friday 19 December. We will be working between 10pm and 6am on weeknights and we will close lane 2 in both directions to safely complete the works.
A120 Houchins Lane, Colchester: Junction improvement works
We will be making junction improvements on the A120 near Colchester, Essex at the junction with Houchins Lane. We will be installing new road signs and renewing road markings at the location. The works will start on Monday 8 December and we plan to finish them by Friday 12 December. We will carry out the works between 8pm and 5am and we will manage traffic using lane closures controlled by temporary traffic signals.
Ongoing work
A1, Black Cat roundabout, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire: Improvements
A scheme to ease congestion and improve journey time and safety (part of the Government’s £317m pinch point programme, which aims to boost local economies by reducing congestion and delays at key locations) has started. It involves a new road alignment to enlarge and widen the existing roundabout, new safety fencing, improved drainage, new surfacing on the roundabout and installation of lighting columns and traffic lights. The work will normally take place between 7.30am and 5.30pm from Monday to Friday, with the occasional night time lane closures. Narrow lanes are now in place in both directions.
There will be various single lane closures between 8th and 14th December on both north and southbound A1 and A421. Subject to weather conditions, the work is scheduled to last for approximately six months.
A5-M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass), Bedfordshire: Improvements
This scheme aims to provide a link to the M1 that is an alternative to the movement along the A5 and A505 from the A5/A505 junction to the M1 Junction 11. It would reduce journey times and improve journey reliability for strategic traffic currently travelling through Dunstable. It also aims to reduce the number of vehicle and safety related incidents and will support local development plans, economic growth and employment and maximise the return on public investment.
Advanced works started on site in May 2014. Continuation of these works will require some road closures, which will be publicised in advance. These works are important as they will help stay on target for the planned start of the main construction work in spring 2015.
The planned completion date for the project is early 2017. For more information, visit the project pages
A11 Fiveways to Thetford, Suffolk: Major upgrade
Work is taking place along the A11 between Fiveways roundabout (Barton Mills) and London Road (Thetford roundabout) to dual the last section of the road. The Elveden bypass between Chalk Hall Farm (south of Elveden) to London Rd roundabout at Thetford is now open to traffic and two-way traffic is also running on some new sections of carriageway.
During the works, there will be a temporary speed restriction of 40mph throughout the scheme.
Two-way portable traffic signals will be in operation on the B1106, Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm daily, when required.
The C616 is closed at its junction with the A11. Access will be maintained via the A1065, Brandon Road. The planned completion date is December 2014. For further details of this scheme, visit the scheme pages
A14 J33-34 eastbound: drainage work
We will be carrying out drainage investigation works under lane closures between J33 Girton& J34 Milton, Cambridge and closing the E/B on slip at J33 between 00:00hrs and 05:00 on Monday 1 December. Works will continue on the eastbound carriageway until 5 December. All works will be carried out between 8pm and 6am.
A14 Brampton to Ellington, Cambridgeshire: Ditch clearance
Work to clear the ditch of vegetation and silt on the A14 between Brampton Hut and Ellington village started on 20 October for approximately eight weeks. The work is carried out under lane closures at night time only (mainly on the westbound carriageway but there will be some eastbound work) between 8pm and 5am, when traffic flows are lower.
A14 Girton to Histon (junctions 31 to 32): Lane gain scheme
On 14 April 2014 work started to improve slip roads onto the M11 and A14 and to add an additional lane on the A14 in each direction between Girton and Histon. This is part of the Government’s Pinch point Programme. The work is scheduled to take place mainly during the day, with existing lanes narrowed and a 50mph speed limit imposed.
Between Monday 8th December and Friday 12th December, there will a full closure of the A14 Westbound between junctions 36-32. This will take place between 20:00hrs and 06:00hrs each evening.
There will be also be periodic lane closures on other nights, however two lanes will be maintained in each direction during the day to support peak time traffic flows.
The closures and diversion will be well sign posted and details of the diversion can be seen on the scheme pages.
A47 Postwick, Norfolk: Postwick Hub junction upgrade
Norfolk County Council started work to upgrade the Postwick Hub junction over the A47 on 12 May 2014. For the duration of the work, there will be an eastbound lane 1 closure and a temporary 50mph speed limit on the A47. In addition, work will require some overnight closures on the A47 from time to time, which will be advertised in advance by the council. Work is due to be completed by winter 2015. For further details, contact Norfolk County Council on 0344 800 8020 or visit Norfolk County Council’s website.
A120 Little Bentley, Essex: Pellens Corner Average Speed Cameras
Works commenced in October to provide a series of average speed cameras along a stretch of the A120 that has seen many incidents. Works are programmed for completion in January 2015. Week commencing 8th December works to be undertaken will include directional drilling to supply power supplies from one side of the A120 to the other and there will also be the start of construction of the footings for the camera lighting units and cameras. These works will be undertaken during the day under lane closures between 8am and 5pm.
A421 Bedford Southern Bypass eastbound: Resurfacing and drainage clearance works
We will be carrying out works to resurface the carriageway on the eastbound A421 Bedford Southern Bypass. We will be replacing worn out carriageway, road markings and road studs, as well as clearing drainage at this location. Works will start on Monday 17 November and we plan to finish them by Tuesday 23 December. We will be working between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works we will need to close the A421 eastbound between A4280 Goldington Road and A6 Elstow. Eastbound traffic should leave the A421 at A4280, turn left at the traffic lights onto Newnham Avenue, then follow Newnham Avenue onto Longholme Way. At the roundabout, take the second exit onto Rope Walk, and at the next roundabout take the second exit onto A5140 Ampthill Road, and then follow this road to the junction with A421 / A6 at Elstow.
We will remove the traffic management during the daytime, and traffic will run on the A421 on a milled surface, with a temporary 40mph speed limit. Our intention is to better deliver a road surface that has fewer joints reducing maintenance works in the future. The operations should also reduce the duration of the works compared with using the traditional method.
The Highways Agency is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of road workers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:
*keep within the speed limit – it is there for your safety *get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching *concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks *be alert for works’ traffic leaving or entering roadworks *keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front *observe all signs – they are there to help you
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.