Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 25 to Sunday 31 January 2016
Summary of work being carried out this coming week.
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
A1(M) Welwyn to Stevenage: surveys
We will be carrying out pavement investigations between junction 6 (Welwyn) and 7 (Stevenage) from Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 January.
A5 Chalk Hill: surveys
We will be carrying out pavement investigations this weekend between Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January. Traffic lights will be in place while we are working.
A14 J54, Sproughton: signs and markings improvements
We are improving safety with better signage and road markings at junction 54 of the A14. We will be working between 8pm and 6am from Sunday 24 to Tuesday 26 January. The westbound slip road will be closed while we are working. There will be a clearly signed diversion in place, where drivers will stay on the A14 to junction 53, before exiting and returning eastbound.
A14 Orwell to Levington: surveys
We will be carrying out pavement investigations until 11 February, with overnight lane closures will be in place while we are working.
A47 Hockering: signs and markings improvements
We are improving safety on the A47 at Hockering with improved signage and road markings at the junction. We will be working between 8pm and 6am from Monday 25 to Thursday 28 January. These works will be on the eastbound slip road where The Street joins the A47 in Hockering, with temporary traffic lights in place around the junction while we are working.
Ongoing work
Cycle improvements schemes, Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, Bedfordshire
We are building or improving cycle paths at 17 locations across the East of England including on the A12, A120, A47 and A5. The work includes 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 5 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 – High Street / Old Nelson
Work to the existing crossing at the Artillery Way / Old Nelson street/ High Street junction started on 11 January for 6 weeks. The existing controlled pedestrian crossing will be removed and replaced with a realigned crossing along High Street, including the installation of new signage, surfacing and pavements to its approaches.
Work will be carried out under off peak lane closures using 2 way temporary traffic signals between 9:30am and 3:30pm.
The existing pedestrian crossing will be decommissioned and a temporary crossing put in place for the duration of the works.
Night work will be required to install the traffic signal connections between 6:30pm and 7am.
A12 Lowestoft : Gunton Hall pinch point
Work to the existing eastern footpath between Gunton Avenue & Bentley Drive Roundabout will start on 18 January for 4 weeks. The existing eastern footpath will be widened, operations include the removal of trees, reconstruction and installation of new signage, fencing, resurfacing and lining.
Work will be carried out under lane closures using 2 way temporary traffic signals between 9:30am and 3:30pm.
Night work may be required for surfacing and road markings between 6:30pm and 7am.
A12 Lowestoft Camden Street / High Street
Work to the existing eastern and western footpaths on A12 Jubilee Way between St Margaret’s Street and Camden Street will start on 18 January for 5 weeks. The work includes the installation of a new toucan crossing and localised widening of the existing eastern and western footways, as well as installation of new kerbs, street lighting and signage.
Work will be carried out under lane closures between 9:30am and 3:30pm.
Night work will be required for the traffic signal connections, street lighting installation, surfacing and street markings between 6:30pm and 7am.
A12 Lowestoft: Gunton Church Lane/Hollingsworth
Works to the existing eastern and western footpaths on A12 Yarmouth Road between Gunton Church Lane and Hollingsworth Road will start on 25 January and last approximately 7 weeks.
The works include the installation of a new toucan crossing and localised widening of the existing eastern and western footways, operations include full depth construction, installation of new kerbs, street lighting, signage, surfacing and lining to its approaches.
Works will be carried out under off peak lane closures between the hours of 09:30 am and 3:30 pm.
Night work will be required to install duct crossings for the street lighting and traffic signal, and surfacing & lining between the hours of 06:30pm and 07:00 am.
A12 Witham to Marks Tey
Works to the existing northern footpath on the A12 & A1304 through Kelvedon between Witham & Marks Tey with start on 25th and last approximately11.5 weeks.
The existing northern footpath is to be widened and operations include, full depth reconstruction and the installation of new kerbs, signage, fencing, resurfacing and lining.
Works will be carried out under Night lane closures between the hours of 09:00 pm & 05:00 am.
M1, A421, A5, Bedfordshire: improvements
A package of works to repair or resurface carriageways, replace and install new signs, replace road markings, upgrade lighting cables and install new LED lighting heads on the M1, A421 and A5 in Bedfordshire started last month and is planned for completion in January 2016. The work is part of Highways England’s commitment to improve safety and ensure better journey experiences across the East region’s busiest roads.
You can stay informed of latest closures and works by visiting our website.
M11, A14, Cambridgeshire: improvements
A package of work to carry out resurfacing, safety barrier renewal, bridge repairs, embankment repairs, replacing and installing new signs, repairing damaged kerbs and replacing road markings on the A14 and M11 in Cambridgeshire, has started and will continue until the end of June. The work is part of Highways England’s commitment to improve safety and ensure better journey experiences across the East region’s busiest roads.
You can stay informed of latest closures and works by visiting our website.
We are repairing the embankment and the bridge on the A1307 Huntingdon Road. A lane closure is in place in both directions as well as a 40mph speed limit, to remain in place 24 hours a day with the other lane remaining open.
We are renewing and restoring the safety barrier in the centre of the road between junctions 31 (M11 interchange) and 34 (Horningsea). We will be working between 8pm and 6am, with work expected to be completed in April. While we are working there will be lane closures in both directions between the junctions overnight with a 40mph limit throughout the works.
We are resurfacing the northbound exit slip of junction 13 of the M11 (Madingley Road) over the weekend (Friday night to Monday morning) until Monday 22 February, working between 10pm and 5am. Northbound traffic will continue north on the M11 to junction 14 and head east on the A14 to junction 32, returning westbound on the A14 to the A428 and then to the entry slip from the A1303 where the diversion ends. Traffic wishing to return to the A1303 Madingley Road will continue to the Hardwick junction taking the exit and return east on the A428 to the Madingley exit slip, where the diversion ends.
We are resurfacing the southbound entry slip of junction 13 of the M11 (Madingley Road), overnight on Monday 25 January working between 10pm and 5am. Southbound traffic will take the A1303 towards Cambridge, head south on the A1135, then take the A603 to re-join the M11 at junction 12.
M11 Stansted Airport to M25: carriageway repairs
We are repairing and improving the M11 between junctions 8 (Stansted Airport) and 6 (M25). Work should be completed by mid-March. There will be lane closures and speed restrictions throughout the works and a number of road closures between junctions 8 and 7, with all work taking place between 10pm and 6am.
This week we will be carrying out emergency repairs works on the M11 northbound. Subject to weather conditions, the M11 will be closed northbound between junctions 6 (M25) and 7 (Harlow) on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 January. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers will take the M25 to J25 (Enfield), the A10 and the A414 past Harlow before re-joining the M11 northbound at junction 7.
On Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 January we will be working on the M11 southbound between junctions 8 and 7. We will close lanes while we are working and there will be a speed limit in place.
On Thursday 28 and Friday 29 we will be working on the M11-A120 northbound link road between junction 8 and Priory Wood Roundabout. The link road will be closed and a lane will be closed on the northbound M11. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers will exit at junction 8 to join the A120 eastbound at Priory Wood Roundabout.
M40 J1A to J10, Bucks and Oxfordshire: overhead signs replacement
We are replacing the overhead message signs on the M40 between London and Bicester with new models. There will be hard shoulder closures and we will be working between 9.30am and 4.30pm as work begins. We will be replacing the signs between 10pm and 5am, with some slip roads closed. This work will be completed by the end of March.
A1(M) Huntingdon to Peterborough: overhead signs replacement
We are replacing the overhead message signs on the A1(M) between Huntingdon and Peterborough with new models. The second phase starts on Monday 25 January and will require overnight lane and slip roads closures, which will be clearly signposted in advance. During the slip road closures, there will be a clearly signed diversion diverting traffic via the next A1(M) junction.
There will be a third phase of work between end February and March to switch the signs on, which will also require lane and slip road closures. The work is planned for completion in spring 2016.
A5-M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass), Bedfordshire: major improvements
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 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. There will also be overnight lane closures when required, which will be clearly signed.
Work on the A5:
On the A5, travelling from the A505, roundabout traffic has been realigned and now runs on the east side of the carriageway on one lane in each direction to allow for embankment work. Overnight three way traffic lights will be on A5/A505 between 8pm and 6pm.
To note that until mid-January the A5 will be closed in both directions between 8pm and 6am between Houghton Regis (Thorn Road) and Hockliffe Road for repair work. This work is not part of the A5-M1 link scheme.
Work on the major improvement is due to complete in spring 2017. For more information, visit the scheme website.
A12 Essex: improvements
We are working to improve the A12 in Essex and Suffolk, making the road safer and improving the road surface. We are also putting in place new signs to make the road easier to navigate. Work at various locations along the route will be ongoing until spring 2016. The work is part of Highways England’s commitment to improve safety and ensure better journey experiences across the East region’s busiest roads. Works take place overnight between 8pm and 6am and not at weekends so as to minimise disruption for drivers.
You can stay informed of latest closures and works by visiting our website.
We are upgrading and replacing the safety barrier and putting up new signs between Langham and Stratford St Mary, with works ongoing until the end of the week. There are lane closures and a reduced speed limit in place for the works.
We are improving drainage and an embankment at Chelmsford, with work expected to be completed by mid-February. There will be lane closures while we are working.
We are resurfacing the northbound entry slip road and sections of the southbound entry and exit slip roads at junction 32B near Capel St Mary. We will be working overnight on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 January. The slip roads will be closed consecutively with lane closures in place on the A12. For the northbound entry slip road closure, drivers will be directed to join the A12 southbound and continue to junction 32A and return northbound. For the southbound exit slip road closure, drivers will be directed to continue to junction 32A and return northbound to exit at junction 32B. For the southbound entry slip road closure, drivers will be directed to join the A12 northbound and continue to junction 33 and return southbound.
A14 Ipswich, Suffolk: Orwell Bridge safety improvements
Work to introduce a new speed limit, improve road markings and install new traffic signs as part of a package of measures to improve safety on the A14 Orwell Bridge in Suffolk is underway and is expected to complete by spring 2016. This work will also see the installation of average speed cameras enforcing a new speed limit of 60mph.
Most of the work will be carried out between 8pm and 6am involving lane closures and some road closures between junctions 56 to 57 with some minor work taking place on the verges during the day.
There are lanes closed on the A14 in both directions between junctions 55 and 58 between 8pm and 5am until mid-March.
A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme: topographical surveys
From 19 October to 19 January we are carrying out topographical, drainage and pavement surveys for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme.
These surveys allow us to map the layout and level of the existing road, drainage network and adjacent land, as well as understand the ground we will be building on, 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 would 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 will take place at night only (between 8pm and 6am) to minimise any disruption to traffic. No heavy machinery or plant equipment will be used.
Lane closures are currently scheduled overnight on:
- Monday 25 January: A14 westbound, junction 21 (Brampton Hut) – junction 20 (Ellington) (design inspection)
- Wednesday 27 to Thursday 28 January: M11 southbound, junction 14 (Girton) (pavement & topographical survey)
- Thursday 28 January: A1/A14 Brampton Hut interchange (street lighting survey)
- Friday 29 January: A14 eastbound, junction 28 (Swavesey) – junction 31 (Girton) with junction 31 exit closed and diversion in place (for pavement survey)
- Saturday 30 January (until 10am on Sunday 31): A14 westbound, junction 33 (Milton) to junction 31 (Girton) (bridge inspections)
A138 Chelmer Village, Chelmsford, Essex: Chelmer Viaduct replacement
Work to rebuild the viaduct at Chelmer on the A138 started on 17 March 2015. The major improvement work on the Chelmer Viaduct in Chelmsford will take approximately 18 months to complete.
The reinforced deck construction is nearly completed on the south side and ongoing on the north. The earthworks are well advanced either side of the main viaduct structure. Concrete works to the northern approach viaduct is due to commence on Monday 25 January 2016. All daytime site work is carried out off-line so daytime traffic is not affected by the ongoing works.
Highways England 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 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.