Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 26 September to Sunday 2 October 2016
Summary of the 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. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.
New work
A1(M) junctions 2 Welham Green to 4 Hatfield North, Hertfordshire: tunnel safety check
Work to maintain the safety of the Hatfield Tunnel by carrying out equipment and response tests will start this week. The northbound carriageway between junctions 3 and 4, and the southbound carriageway between junctions 4 and 2, will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, on Saturday 24 September. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A1001.
A11 Brettenham Heath
We are working to improve the surface of the A11 adjacent to the Brettenham Heath Nature Reserve near Thetford.
This work will be done overnight on Friday 30 September between 8pm and 6am, with the A11 closed southbound from the B1111 Larling junction to the A1075 roundabout at Thetford.
When heading southbound, drivers will be diverted northward on the B1111 Watton Road, then southwest down the A1075 Thetford Road before re-joining the A11 at the A11/A1075 roundabout at Thetford.
A14 Felixstowe: road surface surveys
We are surveying the road surface along the A14 northbound between junctions 60 (Port of Felistowe Road roundabout) and 62 (A154 – Felixstowe Docks roundabout). This will start at junction 60 on Tuesday 27 September, finishing on Friday 30 September at junction 62. This will be done between 8pm and 5am, using lane closures where necessary.
A47 Great Yarmouth: road surface surveys
We are surveying the road surface along the A47 Acle Straights (Three Feathers), including Vauxhall to Blackmills roundabouts, in both directions. This will be done overnight on Monday 26 September. We will be working between 8pm and 5am, using traffic lights where necessary.
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, usually working between 8pm and 5am. This week we are repairing barriers on the M11 in both directions from Monday 26 to Friday 30 September 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 26 to Friday 30 September.
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 at junction 7 (Harlow). During the work, the hard shoulder is closed at this location.
We are repairing an embankment on the M11 at junction 8 (Stansted). The hard shoulder is closed at junction 8 with a 50mph limit in place while we are working. We expect this work to be completed by late October.
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 the scheme website.
This week there will be overnight lane closures northbound from junctions 6 to 8 from Monday 26 to Sunday 2 October. There will be 3 lanes running through the day and one lane running each night. A 50mph speed limit will be in place throughout the works, 24/7.
There will also be northbound slip road closures from 26 September to 2 October at junctions 7 and 8 between 10 pm – 05.30am each night.
M40 Banbury: message sign upgrading
We are upgrading visual message signs on the M40 between junctions 9 (A34 – A41 – Bicester) and 11 (A422 – Banbury). We will be doing this from until Monday 26 September, working between 8pm and 5am. The hard shoulder and, in some stretches, the left hand and central lane, will be closed while we are working.
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.
This week we are working on the M40 northbound entry and exit slip roads at junction 11 (Banbury) from Thursday 29 to Friday 30 September. Drivers will diverted to continue on the M40 to the next junction, exit and return to junction 11.
We are working on the M40 southbound entry and exit slip roads at junction 11 (Banbury) from Friday 30 September to Saturday 1 October. Drivers will diverted to continue on the M40 to the next junction, exit and return to junction 11.
Working on the M40 northbound between junctions 6 (Lewknor) and 8A (A40 Wheatley Services) from Saturday 1 to Monday 3 October. Drivers will diverted to exit at junction 6, taking the A4009 and A40 London Road to the A418, continuing to re-join the M40 at junction 8A.
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 southbound between the A422 Abbey Hill Roundabout (H3) and the A421 Redmoor Roundabout (H9). The road will be closed on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 September as we remove the temporary speed limit and narrow lanes. Drivers will be diverted to take Grafton Street V6 to re-join the A5 southbound at A421 Redmoor Roundabout (H9).
We are also working on the A5 northbound between the A4146 Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout and the A509 Portway Interchange (H5). The left hand lane will be closed while we are working and a 50mph speed limit will be in place.
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 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.
Reminder for this weekend
There will be full closures on the M1 in both directions (northbound and southbound) between junctions 11 and 12 from 8pm on Saturday 24 September until 2pm on Sunday 25 September to allow for the safe demolition of an existing overbridge (Houghton Road).
The M1 northbound traffic will be diverted to exit at junction 9 and then traffic diverted north on the A5 to Milton Keynes. At the Junction with the Bletcham roundabout, take the third exit onto Bletcham Way (A4146) and continue to Browns Wood roundabout; take the first exit onto Tongwell Street (A4146).
At Walnut Tree roundabout take the second exit and continue north along Tongwell St (A4146). At Brinklow roundabout take second exit and continue north Tongwell St (A4146) to Monkston roundabout and take the second exit onto Tongwell St (A4146) and continue north to the roundabout with Childs Way. Take the third exit and follow Childs Way (A4146) to Northfield roundabout, take second exit onto A509, re-join junction 14 of the M1.
Traffic for Luton Airport and Dunstable will be able to continue on the M1 at junction 9 and continue north on the M1 to junction 10 for Luton and Dunstable. At junction 11 the M1 will be closed completely and traffic taken off the junction with the A505.
M1 southbound traffic will exit at junction 12 and turn right onto the A5120 through Toddington. Turn left onto Houghton Regis High Street and continue to the junction with Park Rd, taking the third exit onto Poynters Rd and follow to the A505 roundabout. Take the first exit and continue along the A505 to junction 11 of the M1 and re-join south.
Next week there will be overnight lane closures on the M1 between junction 11 and 12 for ongoing verge works from Monday 26 to Friday 30 September.
We are also carrying out routine overhead gantry inspections between junction 10 and 13. From Monday 26 to Friday 30 September 2016, there will be overnight off peak lane closures in place on M1 northbound while we inspect gantries between junction 10 and 11.
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. There is no right turn onto Thorn Road from the A5 northbound as well as no right turn onto the A5 from Thorn Road. 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.
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 Bentley Drive
There will be work on upgrading the pedestrian crossing. There will be lane restrictions on all approaches to the Bentley Drive/Foxburrow Hill roundabout to accommodate the signal upgrade work and will be in place 24/7 for approximately three weeks. Next week there will be minor carriageway width restrictions during footway reinstatement work to ensure appropriate safety zones.
A12 Lowestoft Camden Street / High Street
There is no work planned this week.
A12 Lowestoft – Gunton Church Lane / Hollingsworth
There is no works planned this week.
A12 Lowestoft – Jubilee Way
There will be no lane restrictions in this area but some work to the cycleway surface.
A12 Lowestoft – Station Road/Gunton St/Peters Avenue
Work will begin week commencing 12 September for street lighting work, using off-peak, two-way traffic light control next week to disconnect and connect street lighting.
A12 Witham: bridge repairs
We are working to refurbish Olivers Bridge, where the A12 crosses B1018 Maldon Road, just to the east of Witham. This is to complete essential repairs to the bridge structure and resurface the road across it.
The work is due to finish before November. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will need to close part of each side of the A12 while we are working. We will install a contraflow with narrow lanes, keeping two lanes open on the A12 in both directions. This contraflow will be in place continuously throughout the duration of the work, along with a 40mph speed limit.
In order to install this contraflow and complete some of the work, some overnight closures of the A12 in both directions will be necessary. These will be carried out between 10pm and 6am to minimise disruption to road users. On these nights when the A12 is closed, there will be a clearly signed diversion route in place whereby drivers will take the B1389 through Witham to re-join the A12.
Drivers of abnormal loads (wider than 2.9 metres) will be unable to use the contraflow due to the narrow lanes. When travelling northbound and we are working on the A12 northbound, such drivers will be diverted to: Take the M25 westbound, then the M11 northbound, A11 north-east, and then A14 eastbound to re-join the A12.
Similarly, southbound drivers will take this route in reverse when we are working on the A12 southbound. This diversion route for drivers of abnormal loads will be in place for both directions simultaneously during the overnight road closures.
This week we are working on the northbound side of the bridge, with the left hand lane closed. Contraflow will keep two lanes of traffic running in both directions, albeit in narrow lanes and the reduced speed limit. There will be three lanes on the southbound side (including one for the northbound traffic), and one on the northbound side.
A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon major improvements: surveys
We are currently carrying out topographical, drainage, pavement, existing services and street lighting surveys. 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 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, wherever possible, will take place at night only (usually between 8pm and 6am) to minimise any disruption to traffic. No heavy machinery or plant equipment will be used.
Surveys are currently scheduled for:
- Monday 26 to Friday 30 September: Ermine Street, Godmanchester – two way traffic light closures (between 9.30am and 3.30pm); Buckden Road, Brampton – two way traffic light closures (between 9.30am and 3.30pm)
- Monday 26 to Tuesday 27 September: A14 eastbound, junction 20 (Ellington) to junction 23 (Huntingdon) - overnight lane closure; A14 westbound, junction 22 (Brampton) to Spaldwick - overnight lane closure
- Wednesday 28 to Thursday 29 September: A14 eastbound, junction 20 (Ellington) to junction 22 (Brampton)- overnight lane closure; A14 westbound, junction 23 (Huntingdon) to junction 22 (Brampton) - overnight lane closure, plus exit lane closure at junction 23 and on roundabout
- Friday 30 September: A14 eastbound, Spaldwick to junction 21 (Brampton Hut) - overnight lane closure; A14 westbound, junction 23 (Huntingdon) to junction 22 (Brampton) - overnight lane closure
A14 Ipswich: Orwell Bridge maintenance
We are working beneath Orwell Bridge near Ipswich at either end of the bridge. Some of the work we are doing to maintain the bridge is within the bridge, but there are no restrictions to traffic using the A14 crossing the bridge
A14 Felixstowe: road surface surveys
We are surveying the road surface along the A14 northbound between junctions 58 (Trinity Park) and 60 (A154 – Port of Felixstowe Road roundabout). This will finish on Friday 30 September at junction 60. This will be done between 8pm and 5am, using lane closures where necessary.
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 further details, please visit the scheme 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.
A428 St Neots to Caxton: road repairs
We are working to repair and improve the A428 between St Neots and Caxton in four separate sections. We will be working on weeknights between 8pm and 6am and expect this work to be finished by November.
Stretches of the A428 will be closed while we are working. Currently we are working between Tithe Farm and Eltisley from Friday 23 September until Monday 10 October, with the road closed while we are resurfacing it. When heading westbound, drivers will be diverted to take the A1198 at Caxton Gibbet, at Godmanchester follow the A14 westbound to junction 21, and at Brampton Hut take the A1 southbound and follow the A1 southbound to Wyboston roundabout, where the diversion ends. Drivers heading eastbound will follow this diversion in reverse.
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