Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 27 April to Sunday 3 May 2015
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
Nil
Ongoing work
A1, Black Cat roundabout, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire: improvements
Work to ease congestion and improve journey time and safety on the A1 at the Black Cat Roundabout started in June 2014. 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 improved roundabout opened to traffic last week and the traffic signals are now fully operational. We will remain on site to check the traffic signals are working with the flow of traffic and to complete some finishing off works using overnight closures, weeknights only.
There will be various overnight lane closures from Monday 27 April to Thursday 30 April between 21:00 to 06:00.
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.
Advance works started on site in May 2014 and main construction work which has now started, is progressing. These works will require some road closures, which will be publicised in advance.
The two public exhibitions days have now concluded and were well attended with over 600 members of the public. To view the display boards used at the exhibition and a fly through visualisation of the proposed scheme, visit the scheme pages.
Work on the major improvement is due to complete in spring 2017. For more information, visit the scheme pages.
A12 Bascule Bridge, Lowestoft, Suffolk: improvements
Work is continuing to carry out improvements to the bridge lifting mechanism on the A12 Bascule Bridge in Lowestoft. The work is being carried out overnight between 8pm and 6am Sunday to Thursday and is scheduled for completion by 30 April. During the work there is a full carriageway closure of the A12 at the bridge. National traffic travelling northbound will be diverted to the A1117 Bloodmoor Road, at the A12/A1117 Bloodmoor Road Roundabout continuing on the A1117 (Bloodmoor Road, Elmtree Road, Cotmer Road) to its junction with the A146 Bridge Road, turn left onto the A1117 Bridge Road, continue on the A1117 (Normanston Drive, Millennium Way, Bentley Drive) to re-join the A12 Yarmouth Road and vice versa for southbound traffic.
Local diversions will be clearly signposted.
A12 J31-33, Suffolk: improvements
We are in the second phase of works to improve the road network on the A12 between junction 31 (Four Sisters Interchange) and junction 33 (Copdock Interchange). We are resurfacing the carriageway and renewing road markings, repairing barriers and drainage systems and improving lighting and embankments within these works. We are working each night between 9pm and 6am and weekends between 9pm and 8am. During the week of 27 April the northbound carriageway will be closed overnight with contraflow being in operation on the southbound carriageway. A clearly signposted diversion route will be in place.
A12 J11-12, Brentwood, Essex: improvements
We are in the second phase of works to improve the road network on the A12 in both directions between junction 11 (for M25) and junction 12 (for A1023 Chelmsford Road). We are resurfacing the carriageway and renewing road markings, repairing barriers and drainage systems and improving lighting and embankments within these works. During the week of 27 April the southbound carriageway will be closed overnight with contraflow being in operation on the northbound carriageway. A clearly signposted diversion route will be in place.
A14 Tostock, Bury St Edmunds: Embankment stabilisation
Work to stabilise the embankment along the A14 near Tostock, Bury St Edmunds is being carried out overnight for 19 nights from Monday 20 April. The work is being carried out between 8pm and 6am Monday to Friday and is planned for completion by Friday 15 May. During the work there will be a lane closure past the works and a temporary speed limit of 50mph.
A14 Girton to Histon (junctions 31 to 32): Lane gain scheme
Work 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 was completed on Friday 10 April, with all three lanes in both directions now open with a reduced speed limit of 50mph. Finishing off works, which include landscaping, street lighting and fully resurfacing the road between junctions 31 and 32 (which will require overnight closures), should be completed by early June.
Between Monday 27 April and Friday 1 May, the eastbound A14 between junction 31-32 and the westbound access to the A14 at both junctions 36 and 32 will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am. Diversions will be clearly signposted. For details of the scheme, visit the Highways Agency website.
A14 Huntingdon: barrier replacement
Work to replace sections of the central reservation barrier is being carried out on the A14 Brampton and Spittals near Huntingdon. Works started Monday 9 February and are due to finish by the end of May. We are working between 8pm and 6am and will use lane 2 closures and a temporary speed limit of 40mph for safety reasons.
A47 Peterborough: bridge repairs
Work to carry out bridge and safety barrier repair works is continuing on the A47 at junction 18 (Lincoln Road Interchange) in Peterborough. The work is being carried out between 8am and 6pm and is scheduled to finish in May. During the works there will be a lane closure in both directions between junctions 17 and 18 with a temporary 50mph speed limit. A diversion will be clearly signposted for abnormal loads directing westbound traffic off the A47 at junction 15 (Thomas Cook Interchange) along the A1260 Nene Parkway southbound to the junction with A1139 Fletton Parkway before taking the A1139 northbound to its junction with the A47 junction 20 (Dogsthorpe). Eastbound traffic will follow this diversion in reverse.
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. Construction of the access road for the viaduct construction traffic has started and drainage, pipe-laying work and the reinforcement of the existing embankment is now due to begin. All work will be carried out off-line and traffic will not be affected. For details of the scheme, visit the Highways Agency website.
A421 Castle Mill viaduct, Bedford: Drainage repairs
We are repairing the drainage on the A421 Castle Mill viaduct south of Bedford and the work should be completed by 13 May. This work will be carried out alongside the A421 Bedford Southern Bypass resurfacing works and we will need to close the A421 westbound between A4280 Goldington Road and A6 Elstow. Road users will leave A421 at the Renhold Junction onto the A4280 Goldington Road, turn left at the traffic lights onto Newnham Avenue. At the roundabout take the second exit onto Longholme Way, to the next roundabout with the A600 (London Road), take the A5140 (Rope Walk), continue along the A6 (Ampthill Road) to the A421.
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 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.