Press release

Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 21 to Sunday 27 November 2016

Summary of work being carried out this coming week.

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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. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.

New work

M1 Luton: digital signage replacements

We are replacing digital motorway signage on the M1 between junctions 9 (A5 –Markyate) and 10 (A1081 – Luton). We will be working overnight on weekdays only between 10pm and 5am, finishing on Thursday 15 December.

This week we are working on signage at junction 9, from Monday 21 to Thursday 24 November. The northbound entry slip road to the M1 will be closed while we are working on Tuesday 22 November, with traffic diverted to join the M1 southbound, exit at junction 8 (Hemel Hempstead), and return north.

A1 Sandy: resurfacing

We are resurfacing the A1 northbound between the Sandy roundabout and the George Town cottages junction. We will be working overnight between Monday 21 November and Saturday 3 December, between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only.

We will close the A1 northbound between Sandy roundabout and the George Town cottages junction while we are working. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers will be diverted to take the A603 westbound towards Bedford, then the A421 eastbound to re-join the A1 at the Black Cat roundabout.

A11 Wymondham

We are completing works to repair the drainage on the A11 northbound at Wymondham. We will be working overnight weekdays only between 8pm and 6am and will need to close the inside lane of the A11 while we work.

A14 Huntingdon: resurfacing

We are resurfacing the A14 westbound approaching junction 21 (Brampton Hut – A1), near Huntingdon between Monday 21 and Saturday 26 November, working from 8pm to 6am. To keep drivers a safe distance from our works, we will have to close the A14 while we are working. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place while we are working, whereby divers wishing to use the A1 will exit at junction 23 to head north on the A14 and A1(M) to the B1043 junction at Alconbury, then return southbound on the A1(M) to junction 21. Drivers wishing to continue on the A14 westbound will continue north on the A1(M) to its end at the junction with the A605 Fletton Parkway, which they will follow south west to re-join the A14 at junction 13 (Thrapston).

A47 Norwich: slip roads resurfacing

We are resurfacing the A47 to the south west of Norwich, at the Thickthorn junction with the A11. We will start work on, Monday 21 November, expecting to finish by Friday 9 December, working between 8pm and 6am on weekdays only.

We will have to close the A47 at the junction while we are working. This week we are working on the A47 eastbound from Monday 21 to Tuesday 29 November.

There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place while we are working. Drivers heading eastbound while we are working before Thickthorn Interchange will leave the A47 at Longwater, taking the A1074, then take the A140 Norwich Ring Road to re-join the A47 at Thickthorn. Drivers who miss the Longwater diversion will turn around at the B1108 Watton Road Interchange to head back to Longwater.

When we are working after Thickthorn Interchange, drivers will ned to exit at the roundabout, taking the A11, then tTake the A140 Norwich Road to re-join the A47 at the A140 Ipswich Road Interchange.

When we are working beneath the interchange, drivers will have to exit and re-join on the far side of the work.

A428 St Neots: technology upgrade

We are working to replace technology embedded in the road surfaced on the A428. The A428 will be closed between the Tesco Roundabout and Tithe Roundabout while we are working, between 8pm and 6am. Eastbound traffic will be diverted to remain on the A1 and head north to junction 21 of the A14 (Brampton Hut), then taking the A14 south east to junction 32 (Milton), where they will exit and return westbound the re-join the A428. Westbound drivers will follow this diversion in reverse.

Ongoing work

Various roads: routine inspections for street lighting

We are carrying out a programme of routine inspections of electrical and structural equipment across the region, which is planned for completion in spring 2017. This week, we will be inspecting equipment on:

  • the A5 with no impact on road users
  • the A47 starting at Great Yarmouth and working westward which will consist of lane closures but no full closures

Various roads: barrier repairs

We will continue repairs to barriers throughout the week, using lane closures to keep road users at a safe distance from the work. The work will take place at various locations, working between 8pm and 5am. This week we are repairing barriers on the M11 in both directions from Monday 21 November to Friday 25 November overnight, using lane closures while we are working between junctions 6 (M25) and 9 (A11). We are also repairing barriers on the A120 in both directions, between junction 8 with the M11 and Braintree (Marks Farm).

Various roads: litter picking and sweeping

We will continue litter picking throughout the week on the A1(M), the M1 and the M11. These will be done using a mobile slow-moving hard shoulder or lane closure. We will also be sweeping the hard shoulder of the M11 during the day while we litter pick between junctions 6 (M25) and 9 (A11).

M1 Hemel Hempstead: technology repairs

We are working to repair and replace faulty power cables for signage technology on the motorway, including overhead sign lighting, on the M1 between junctions 8 (Hemel Hempstead) and 9 (A5 – Markyate). We are working on weekdays and, if required, some Saturdays. The hard shoulder will be closed while we are working during the day, with lanes closure in place overnight. As part of these scheme works it will be necessary for some of the exit and entry slip roads of junctions 8 and 9 be closed overnight on specific dates, though not simultaneously. Where slip roads are closed, drivers will be diverted to continue on the M1 to the next junction, exit and return to leave the junction from the opposite direction.

M11: tree planting

There will be hard shoulder closures on the M11 in various locations between junctions 6 (M25) and 9 (A11) for tree planting. This will be done between 9am and 4pm from Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 November. On Thursday 24 and Friday 25 November there will be some overnight works as we plant the larger Scots pine trees, as we will lift them into prepared holes overnight and complete the planting the following day. We will be using lights to complete this overnight work.

M11 and A120: structures maintenance

We are carrying out routine maintenance work on bridges crossing the M11 between junctions 6 (M25) and 9 (A11) in both directions. We will also be doing similar work on the A120, between junction 8 with the M11 and Braintree (Marks Farm). These will be done during the day, with the hard shoulder closed while we are working.

M11 and A120 Stansted Airport: pothole filling

We will be filling in potholes on the M11 between junctions 8 (Stansted Airport – Bishop’s Stortford) and 9 (A11) in both directions, and on the A120 between Braintree and junction 8 of the M11. This will be done using lane and hard shoulder closures while we are working, between 8.30pm and 6am, from Monday 21 to Friday 25 November.

M11: routine maintenance

We will be doing routine maintenance of structures and technology boxes along the M11 during the day. These will be done with a hard shoulder closure, taking place between junctions 6 (M25) and 9 (A11).

M40: major maintenance

We will be carrying out major maintenance work on the M40, which includes low noise resurfacing and safety barrier repairs between Adwell (near junction 6) and the A40 Oxford spur (junction 8). For further details, please visit the scheme website.

This week there will be three lanes open to drivers during the day with this reduced to one overnight on the M40 southbound while we are working.

A 50mph speed limit will be in place throughout the works, 24/7

M40: routine maintenance

We are undertaking routine maintenance on the M40. Works include sweeping, drainage cleaning, litter picking, vegetation cutting, white lining, street lighting maintenance, defect repair (including street lighting defects), inspection of the assets including structures and safety fence repair. We will be working between 10pm and 6am. Unless stated otherwise, these closures will see traffic diverted to continue to the next junction, to exit and return. This week we are working on the M40 northbound entry and exit slip roads at junction 5 (Stokenchurch) from Friday 25 to Saturday 26 November

A5 Milton Keynes: barrier repairs

We are replacing safety barriers that protect bridge supports along the northbound and southbound verges of the A5 by Milton Keynes. The work will be undertaken on weekdays between 8pm and 6am to minimise disruption and should be completed early December. The work will be completed under lane closure, however some full closures are required to install temporary barrier and road markings. A clearly signed diversion route will be in place when the road is closed.

The speed limit will be reduced to 50mph past the works and this will remain in place during the day. Also, while both lanes of the A5 will be open during the day, they will have to be narrowed.

This week we are working on the A5 northbound between the A421 Redmoor Roundabout (H9) and the A422 Abbey Hill Roundabout (H3). The left hand lane is closed while we are working and a 50mph speed limit is in place.

The northbound exit slip roads at A509 Portway Interchange (H5) and A422 Abbey Hill Roundabout (H3) will be closed from Monday 21 to Friday 25 November while we are working. Drivers will be diverted north on the A5 to turnaround at the A508 Old Stratford Roundabout and exit the A5 southbound at the respective junctions.

We are building a new 2.9-mile, two-lane dual carriageway running from north of Dunstable and joining the M1 at a new junction 11a, south of Chalton. Main construction started in March 2015.

Work on the M1

Work on the new M1 junction and bridges is progressing well. The traffic management, including hard shoulder closures, safety barriers, signs, CCTV and average speed cameras, will stay in place throughout the junction construction work, which will be carried out in phases and should be finished in spring 2017 as the scheme nears completion.

This week from Monday 21 to Friday 25 November, there will be M1 road closures between junctions 12 and 13 from 10pm to 6am for overhead gantry works.

Work on the A5 and local roads.

From Monday 1 August a new road layout is in place between the A505 and Dunstable Road for the A5 and Thorn Road. These changes will include the new roundabout on the A5 being introduced allowing road users to use the roundabout and access Thorn Road from the A5 northbound, and from Thorn Road access to the A5 northbound, A5 north towards Milton Keynes and A5 south towards Dunstable and A505.

From Monday 21 November to Friday 25 November there will be traffic lights overnight on the A5-A505 between 8pm and 6am for safety barrier installation work. There will be off-peak temporary traffic lights on local roads and A5 between 9.30am and 3.30pm for verge and safety barrier work.

Cycle improvements schemes in Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk and Bedfordshire

Work is substantially completed on the building or improving of cycle paths at 16 locations across the East of England including on the A12, A120, A47 and A5.

The work included the installation of new and upgraded shared-use foot/cycle ways and toucan crossing facilities. The new or improved paths will make it safer and easier to cycle on or around major A-roads and will improve connections with the local and national cycle network. The project is part of a country-wide initiative which will see Highways England deliver 200 projects over the next five years after the government set up a £100 million dedicated fund for cycling in its Road Investment Strategy.

Ongoing work for this week

A12 Lowestoft – Station Road/Gunton St/Peters Avenue

There will be off-peak two and three-way traffic lights for UKPN work to connect street lighting.

A14 Bury St Edmunds: junction improvements

Improvement works are being carried out on the A14 Junction 45 Rookery Crossroads/Rougham. Works include construction of new eastbound slip roads, which are being funded by Suffolk County Council as part of the Bury St Edmunds Eastern Relief Road scheme. There is a 24 hour 40mph speed limit in place through the works for safety reasons, works are currently taking place overnight using lane closures in both directions. The works are due to take 5 months to complete.

A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire: major improvements

Early preparatory construction work on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme has been underway for a number of months.

Between now and the end of 2016 we are carrying out a variety of tasks which will require us to close lanes / carriageway on the A1, A14 and some of the side roads. The work we will be doing will include:

  • creating strengthened crossing points for site vehicles on a number of the side roads - these are called plant crossings
  • installing access points to our construction compounds
  • taking core samples of the existing trunk roads tenable appropriate design and construction
  • clearing the site of vegetation which is adjacent to the live carriageway

Wherever possible, work will take place at night (usually between 8pm and 6am) to minimise disruption to traffic. Lane or carriageway closures are currently planned for Saturday 19 November-Monday 21 November.

The B1043 Offord Road between Offord Cluny & Godmanchester will be closed on Saturday 19th November 2016 at 8am until Monday 21st November 2016 at 5am to allow the installation of plant crossing points to be installed. Connington Road between Connington & Fenstanton will be closed on Saturday 19th November 2016 at 8am until Monday 21st November 2016 at 5am to allow the installation of plant crossing points to be installed.

  • Monday 21 November 2016: Eastbound A428 at Madingley to Junction 33 A14 will have lane closure for site clearance next to carraigeway
  • Monday 21 November-Friday 25 November: A1 Southbound between Brampton Hut & Little Paxton will have lane 1 closed for site clearance next to carriageway
  • Saturday 26 November to Monday 28 November: Full closure of Hilton Road 08.00 Saturday to 05.00 Monday. This is for plant crossing and site clearance

A14 Cambridgeshire: drainage repairs

We are undertaking investigations and repairs to the drainage system of the A14 between junctions 32 (Girton – M11 interchange) and 35 (Stoke cum Quy). We will be working off the road during the day clearing vegetation and re-profiling drainage ditches. There will be lane closures and slip road closures between 8pm and 6am while we are working overnight, with all works on weekdays only.

This week we are working on the A14 in both directions with the inside lane closed between junctions 32 and 33.

A47 Dogsthorpe: junction improvements (Peterborough City Council)

Peterborough City Council is continuing its junction improvement work at the A47/A15 Dogsthorpe junction, Peterborough. The work will involve some overnight full closure and 24/7 lane closures on the A47.

For more information, visit the Peterborough City Council website.

A138 Chelmer Village, Chelmsford, Essex: Chelmer viaduct replacement

The new viaduct structure opened to traffic on Monday 18 April 2016. Works are now on-going under the structure to facilitate installation of grass cell and prepare permanent maintenance roads.

Demolition works are now substantially completed. Fencing and landscaping works are presently ongoing along with the removal of temporary haul roads.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Published 21 November 2016