Press release

Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 24 – Sunday 30 October 2016

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.

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

NEW WORK

A1(M) Sibson: road surface surveys

We are surveying the road surface along the A1(M) southbound between Sibson and junction17. This will start at Sibson on Monday 24 October, finishing on Tuesday 25 October at junction 17. This will be done between 8pm and 5am, using lane closures.

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 will start work on Monday 24 October, 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 Bishop’s Stortford: traffic light repairs

We are upgrading the traffic lights at the roundabout of junction 8 (Bishop’s Stortford) of the M11 between Friday 28 and Monday 31 October, working between 8pm and 6am. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the inner lane around the whole junction and one lane on southbound exit slip road from the M11.

A1 Brampton Hut: various work

On Thursday 28 and Friday 29 October the northbound A1 will be closed overnight to undertake some short distance surfacing work to the north of the Brampton Hut entry slip road.

A12 Brentwood: road surface surveys

We are surveying the road surface along the A12 between junctions 12 (A1023 – Mountessing) and 13 (Ingatestone) in both directions. This will start at junction 12 on Tuesday 25 October, finishing on Wednesday 26 October at junction 13. This will be done between 8pm and 5am, using lane closures.

A14 Bury St Edmunds: barrier repairs

We are repairing the crash barriers of the A14 as it passes through Risby, between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds. We will be working between Monday 24 October and Friday 4 November, between 8pm and 6am on weekdays only. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the central lane of the A14 in both passing junction 41 (Risby) while we are working, and have a 50mph speed limit in place throughout the duration of the works.

A14 Bury St Edmunds: road surface surveys

We are surveying the road surface along the A14 westbound from junction 43 (Bury St Edmunds) to 42 (Westley). This will start at junction 43 on Monday 24 October, finishing on Tuesday 25 October at junction 42. This will be done between 8pm and 5am, using lane closures.

ONGOING WORK

Various roads: barrier repairs

We will continue repairs to crash 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 17 24 to Friday 21 28 October 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).

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 24 to Friday 28 October.

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).

M11 and A120 Stansted Airport: road repairs

We are repairing embankments on the M11 as part of a wider package of works which included resurfacing on M11 and A120 and putting in new signs, which commenced earlier this year. The package of works should be completed in October. Most of our work will be between 7am and 5pm, with a hard shoulder closure and temporary speed limit in place.

This week we are:

Repairing an embankment on the M11 northbound at junction 7 (Harlow). The hard shoulder is closed at junction 7 while we are working. The left hand and central lane will be closed on the M11 northbound overnight between junctions 6 (M25) and 7 on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 October, as well as the northbound exit slip road at junction 7. Traffic will be diverted to continue on the M11 to junction 8 (Bishop’s Stortford), exit and return southbound to leave at junction 7. On Thursday 27 October the central lane will be closed on the M11 northbound between junctions 6 and 7 while we complete drainage work in the central reservation overnight, along with the left hand lane on the exit slip road at junction 7.

Completing drainage work in the central reservation at junction 6 (M25). The central and middle lanes (lanes two and three) will be closed overnight on Monday 24 October between junctions 7 and 6 southbound while we are working.

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). This work is expected to be completed by mid-December. For further details, please visit: http://www.highways.gov.uk/m40-junction-6-to-8. This week there will be overnight lane closures northbound from junctions 6 to 8 from Monday 24 to Sunday 30 October, with one lane running each night.

The northbound exit slip road will be closed overnight at junctions 7 and 8 will also be closed during this time, with traffic diverted to continue to the next junction, exit and return.

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 southbound at junction 1A (M25) overnight on Tuesday 25 October. Traffic will be diverted to leave the M40 at junction 1A, take the M25 northbound to junction 17, exit and return southbound to re-join the M40 at junction 1A on the far side of the closure.

Working on the M40 northbound exit and entry slip roads at the Warwick services overnight on Saturday 29 October, and the southbound exit slip road at the services on Sunday 30 October.

A1 Little Paxton: barrier renewal

We are repairing the verge crash barriers of the A1 as it passes under the B1041 through Little Paxton, between St Neots and Huntingdon. We will be working from until Friday 28 October, between 8pm and 6am on weekdays only. We will close one lane of the A1 while we are working, and have a 50mph speed limit in place throughout the duration of the works. This lane closure will be northbound for the remainder of the works this week.

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 A4146 Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout and the A509 Portway Interchange (H5). The road will be closed on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 October whilst we remove the temporary barrier and reinstate road markings. Traffic will be diverted to take Watling Street (V4), Bletcham Way, V6 and A509 Portway to re-join the A5 northbound.

We are also working on the A5 southbound between the A509 Portway Interchange (H5) and A4146 Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout. The left hand lane is closed while we are working and a 50mph speed limit is in place. On Monday 24 October the entry slip road will be closed at A421 Redmoor Roundabout and A4146 Bletcham Way Roundabout. Traffic will be diverted to take Bletcham Way and Watling Street (V4) to re-join the A5 southbound at Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout.

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:

We have started work on the new M1 junction and bridges. 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.

We are also carrying out routine overhead gantry inspections between junction 10 and 13. From Monday 24 to Friday 28 October 2016, there will be overnight off peak lane closures in place on M1 southbound while we inspect gantries between junction 12 and 10.

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 .

There will be traffic lights overnight on the A5-A505 between 8pm and 6am. There will be off peak temporary traffic lights on local roads.

There will be overnight road closures of the A5 and Thorn Road from Monday 24 to 28 October 2016 between the hours of 21:00 to 06:00.

A5 closed from A505/A5 roundabout near Chalk Hill to the junction with A5 & Dunstable Road.

Thorn Road closed between Thorn Farm Access Road and the A5.

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 2 and 3-way traffic lights for UKPN work to connect street lighting.

A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire: major improvements

We are currently carrying out topographical, drainage, pavement, existing services and street lighting surveys ahead of main construction starting on a scheme to improve the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon.

These surveys allow us to map the layout and level of the existing road and assets (such as bridges), drainage network and adjacent land, so that we can fully understand the landscape we will be working in and finalise the design of the new road.

Surveys are taking place along the whole of the scheme route. This includes the land where the new Huntingdon southern bypass will be built and the existing A1 and A14 that form part of the scheme. Surveys of the existing route will require lane closures in both directions and, wherever possible, will take place at night only (usually between 8pm and 6am) to minimise any disruption to traffic.

In addition, the A1 northbound between Brampton Hut and Alconbury will be closed overnight on Thursday 27 October.

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 central 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 https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/news/residents/work-set-to-begin-to-reduce-congestion-at-busy-parkway-junction/

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.

A428 Wyboston: bridge repairs

We are doing repair work to the bridge as the A428 passes over the River Great Ouse. We will be working until Friday 28 October, between 8pm and 6am on weekdays only. We will close the stretch of the A428 between the St Neots Tesco roundabout and the Wyboston Lakes roundabout for the A1 while we are working. Eastbound drivers will be diverted to continue on the A1 north to Brampton hut at Huntingdon, then take the A14 south east to junction 31, then take the A428 westbound towards Wyboston to return. Drivers heading westbound will be diverted off at junction 31 of the A14 to follow this diversion in reverse. Local traffic can take Barford Road into Eynesbury and St Neots.

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 24 October 2016