Press release

Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 5 to Sunday 11 December 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

A5 Dunstable: road repairs

We are working to repair the road surface of the A5 as it passes through Dunstable, between Houghton Road and the A505. We will complete this work between Thursday 8 and Monday 12 December, working between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only.

To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the A5 between the two junctions while we are working. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place while we are working, with drivers heading northbound being diverted to:

  • head east on Houghton Road towards Tithe Farm, then
  • head north on the A5120 through Bidwell, then
  • head west on Thorn Road to return to the A5

Drivers heading southbound will follow this diversion in reverse.

A14 Godmanchester: road repairs

We are working to repair the road surface of the entry slip roads at junction 24 of the A14 at Godmanchester. We will complete this work overnight between Monday 5 and Thursday 8 December, working between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only.

We will be closing the slip roads as follows:

  • Monday 5 December – westbound entry to the A14
  • Tuesday 6 December – eastbound entry to the A14
  • Wednesday 7 December - westbound entry to the A14
  • Thursday 8 December – eastbound entry to the A14

To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the junction 24 slip roads that lead on to the A14. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers will be diverted as follows:

For traffic wishing to join A14 westbound, take the A14 eastbound to junction 25, where drivers will be diverted over the junction to head back on the A14 westbound to Godmanchester.

For traffic wishing to join A14 eastbound, take the A14 westbound to junction 23 (Spittals Interchange), where drivers will be diverted over the junction to head back on the A14 eastbound to Godmanchester.

A47 Norwich: road repairs

We are working to repair the road surface of the A47 eastbound at the A146 Trowse Interchange, to the south east of Norwich. Subject to weather conditions, we plan to complete this work overnight between Thursday 8 and Monday 12 December, working between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only.

To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the A47 eastbound between the A140 Ipswich Road Interchange and the A1042 Postwick Interchange while we are working. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, where drivers will be diverted to:

  • exit at the Ipswich Road Interchange, taking the A140 north towards Norwich, then
  • take the A146 Norwich Ring Road east towards Trowse, then
  • take A1054 to join the A147, passing Norwich City Football Club, then
  • take the A1242 Yarmouth Road east towards Thorpe St Andrew, then
  • take the A1042 east to re-join the A47 at the Postwick Interchange

Ongoing work

A1 Buckden: road surface repairs

We are repairing the A1 between the Buckden/B661 roundabout and Brampton junction 21 of the A14. We will complete this work overnight, between Buckden and Brampton on the A1 northbound in early January, working between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the A1 between the two junctions while we are working. There will also be a 40mph speed limit in place 24/7 throughout the works.

This week we are working on the A1 northbound from Monday 5 to Friday 9 December. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers will be diverted to, exit the A1 at Wyboston Lakes to take, the A428 eastbound onto the A14 to exit at junction 32 and travel back west to junction 31a and take the A14 northbound to junction 23 Spittals interchange and left onto junction 21 at Brampton Hut.

A47 Wansford: slip road repairs

We are repairing the road surface on slip roads at the junction of the A47 and A1 at Wansford, west of Peterborough. We will complete this work between Wednesday 30 November and Friday 9 December, working between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the each slip road while we are working on it. We will also have the left hand lane of the A47 closed with a 50mph speed limit in place approaching the speed limit.

These closures will take place as follows:

  • the A1 southbound slip road at the A47 roundabout from Monday 5 to Wednesday 7 December
  • the A1 northbound slip road to the A47 roundabout on Thursday 8 December

There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place while we are working, where drivers wishing to exit the A1 when heading north will be diverted north to the B1081 London Road, then south to the A1/A47 junction; Drivers on the A47 wishing to head north will be diverted off the A1 southbound to Old Great North Road at the New Lane junction, then re-join the A1 to head northbound; Drivers wishing to exit the A1 when heading south will be diverted to the Old Great North Road at the New Lane junction, then re-join the A1 to head northbound to the A1/A47 junction; Drivers on the A47 wishing to head south will be diverted onto the A1 northbound to the B1081 London Road junction, then to head southbound on the A1.

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 and the A47 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 5 to Friday 9 December 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. This 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 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 5 to Thursday 8 December. The southbound exit slip road off the M1 will be closed while we are working on Thursday 8 December, with traffic diverted to continue on the M1 southbound, exit at junction 8, and return north. From Monday 5 to Wednesday 7 December there will be single lane running on the M1 here, with the hard shoulder also closed.

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 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 5 to Friday 9 December.

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: http://www.highways.gov.uk/m40-junction-6-to-8.

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.

However, on Tuesday there will also be three lanes running during the day, with the M40 closed southbound overnight between the two junctions. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers will exit at junction 8 and take the A418, the A40 London Road and the BA4009 to re-join the M40 at junction 6. A 50mph speed limit will be in place throughout the works.

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 by Tuesday 6 December, subject to weather conditions.

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 will be working on the A5 northbound between the A422 Abbey Hill Roundabout (H3) and A508 Old Stratford Roundabout. On Monday 5 December the left hand lane is closed while we are working and a 50mph speed limit is in place.

On Tuesday 6 December the A5 northbound will be closed between A422 Abbey Hill Roundabout (H3) and A508 Old Stratford Roundabout. Drivers will be diverted to take Great Monks St (V5), Stratford Rd, Queen Eleanor St, London Rd and Towcester Rd to re-join the A5 at A508 Old Stratford 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

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 5 December 28 November to Friday 9 December, there will be M1 lane closures between junctions 10 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 5 December to Friday 9 December there will be traffic lights overnight on the A5-A505 between 8pm and 6am for safety barrier installation and cabling 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.

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.

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 to enable 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 Monday 5 December to Friday 9 December 8pm to 6am For site clearance:

  • 3 lanes will be closed on the A1 southbound between junctions 15 and 14
  • a full closure of the A1 southbound between Alconbury and Bramton Hut
  • A1 southbound Brampton Hut exit slip road closed
  • A1 southbound Alconbury entry slip road closed

Saturday 10 December and Saturday 11 December

No Planned works

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 Norwich: road resurfacingWe are resurfacing the A47 to the south west of Norwich, at the Thickthorn junction with the A11. We expect to finish work by Friday 9 December, working between 8pm and 6am on weekdays only.

To keep drivers a safe distance from our works, we will have to close the A47 at the junction while we are working.

The A47 westbound will be closed between the A140 Ipswich Road Interchange and A11 Thickthorn Interchange until Friday 9 December. Drivers will be diverted to take the A140 and Norwich Ring Road to re-join the A47 via the A11 Thickthorn Interchange.

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 scheme website.

A138 Chelmer Village, Chelmsford, Essex: Chelmer viaduct replacement

The new viaduct structure opened to traffic on Monday 18 April 2016.

All works are now substantially completed, with some finishing work taking place away from the road with no impact on road users.

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 2 December 2016