Press release

Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 6 March to Sunday 12 March 2017

Summary of work being carried out this coming week.

This news article was withdrawn on

These bulletins are now sent directly to journalists. Contact the Highways England Press Office directly to be added to the circulation list.

Otherwise you can check on the live roadworks search tool.

The following information summarises the work being carried out this coming week. It is correct as of 2 March 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.

Various roads: routine inspections and maintenance for street lighting

Highways England is carrying out a programme of routine inspections of electrical and structural equipment across the region, which is planned for completion in Summer 2017. In addition there is a programme of maintenance which includes bulk lamp changes. Work will include inspecting equipment on:

  • the A47 heading towards Norwich from Kings Lynn, with traffic management but no full closures
  • the A12 heading south from Colchester to Brentwood, with traffic management but no full closures

Various roads: barrier repairs

Highways England 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, between 8pm and 5am. This week we are repairing barriers on the M11 in both directions from Monday 6 to Friday 10 March 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

Highways England will continue litter picking throughout the week on the M11. This will be done using a mobile slow-moving hard shoulder or lane closure. Work will also include sweeping the hard shoulder of the M11 during the day while we litter pick between junctions 6 (M25) and 9 (A11).

A5 Chalk Hill Footway Improvements

Highways England will be completing safety improvement works to the footway and crossing points on the A5 at Chalk Hill (North Dunstable) around the Sewell Lane Junction. This will be done between Monday 6 March and Friday 10 March, working overnight on weeknights only. During the works we will have temporary traffic lights in place.

A1 Sandy to Black Cat drainage improvements

Highways England will be working to renew and improve the Highway drainage system on the A1 between Sandy and the Black Cat roundabout. Works include the renewal of drainage gullies, and the clearance and improvement of drainage ditches. We will be using weeknight overnight lane closures to provide access to the roadside drainage.

M1: technology repairs

Highways England will be working to repair and replace faulty power cables for signage technology on the motorway, including overhead sign lighting, on the M1. This will be done using lane and hard shoulder closures while we are working, between 9pm and 5am, from Monday 6 to Friday 10 March. As part of this work, it will be necessary for slip roads to be closed overnight on some dates. 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

Highways England are carrying out routine maintenance work on bridges crossing the M11 between junctions 6 (M25) and 9 (A11) in both directions. They 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

Highways England 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 6 to Friday 10 March.

M11: routine maintenance

Highways England 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).

Highways England is 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 is progressing well. The traffic management, including hard shoulder closures, safety barriers, signs, CCTV and average speed cameras, will stay in place throughout the construction work, which will be carried out in phases and should be finished in spring 2017.

Work on the M1and A5: there will be M1 lane closures between junctions 10 and 13 from Monday 6 March to Saturday 11 March between 10pm to 6am for overhead gantry works and new sign installation.

Work on the A5 and local roads: from Monday 6 to Sunday 12 March there will be traffic lights overnight on the A5 and A505 between 8pm and 6am for safety barrier installation and construction of a new footpath works. There will be temporary traffic lights on local roads and A5 between 9.30am and 3.30pm for verge and safety barrier work. Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 between 8pm to 6am Sundon Road will be closed overnight in order to carry out drainage and verge works. Diversion route will be clearly signed.

Eastbound alternative route; drivers will be diverted south along B579 Luton Road, at the roundabout at Coverdale turn left onto Toddington Road and continue along Toddington Road to the junction with Grange Avenue. Turn right onto Grange Avenue and continue to the traffic lights at Oakley Road, turn left and continue along Oakley Road to the next roundabout, go straight across continuing on Oakley Road at the 2nd roundabout, take the 1st exit and then turn left onto Dunstable Road and then turn left onto Waller Avenue, at the end of Waller Avenue turn left onto Marsh Road (B579) and continue to the first roundabout, take the second exit straight over and continue on Marsh Road to the next roundabout and take the second exit onto Sundon Park Road, follow Sundon Park Road which will bring traffic back onto Sundon Road. Westbound alternative route will be the above route in the opposite direction.

A11 Babraham: road surface repairs

Highways England will be working to repair the road surface of the A11 at Babraham. This will be done between Thursday 9 March and Saturday 1 April, working from 8pm to 6am on weeknights only.

To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the A11 while we are working. This will be westbound from Thursday 9 and Tuesday 21 March and eastbound from Wednesday 22 March to Saturday 1 April. When we’re working westbound the A11 will be closed between the A1307 Four Went Ways Interchange and A505 Interchange. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers heading westbound on the A14 will be directed to:

  • ontinue west on the A14 at J36 Nine Mill Hill Interchange towards Cambridge, then;
  • exit the A14 at J31 Girton Interchange and take the M11 south towards London, then;
  • continue south on the M11 past J9 Stump Cross Interchange.

Local traffic affected by the closure will be directed to exit the M11 at J10 Duxford Interchange then east along the A505Drivers who miss the A14 diversion will turn around at the A11/A1307 Four Went Ways Interchange and head back to turn around at the A14 J37 Exning Interchange.

When we’re working eastbound the A11 will be closed between the M11 J9 Stump Cross Interchange and A1307 Four Went Ways Interchange. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers heading northbound on the M11 will be directed to:

  • continue north on the M11 towards Cambridge
  • exit the M11 at J14 Girton Interchange and take the A14 east towards Newmarket
  • continue east on the A14 past J36 Nine Mill Hill Interchange

Local traffic affected by the closure will be directed to:

  • exit the M11 at J11 Cambridge (South) Interchange and take the A1309 north towards Cambridge
  • take the A1134 east towards Addenbrooke’s Hospital
  • take the A1307 south towards Babraham

A12/A47 renumbering

Highways England is renumbering part of the A12 to become the A47. This work is being carried out as part of the improvements to the A47/A12 corridor. We will be replacing road signs that currently show the A12 to now show the A47. The work will last approximately 12 weeks to complete. The section of the A12 that currently runs from Lowestoft to Great Yarmouth will become the A47.

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 five 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 and main construction has now started. We are currently carrying out a variety of tasks for which we need to close lanes or carriageway on the A1, A14 and some local roads, usually overnight between 8pm and 6am unless otherwise stated. The work includes:

  • creating safe crossing points for plant on a number of local roads
  • installing access points to our construction compounds
  • taking core samples of the existing A1 and A14 carriageways to help us plan construction
  • clearing sites next to the live carriageway of vegetation
  • installing CCTV and average speed cameras
  • installing information boards

Planned closures this week

Full closures

Monday 6 March to Friday 10 March:

  • A1 Northbound between Buckden & Alconbury

Friday 10 March 10pm to Monday 13 March 5am:

  • Dry Drayton Road Oakington, northbound from its junction with the A14 to the junction with Slate Hall Farm Lane Closures

Monday 6 March:

  • A1 Northbound between Little Paxton to Brampton Lane 2 closed
  • A14 Eastbound between Junction 27 & Junction 29 Lane 1 closed
  • A14 Eastbound Junction 28 exit & entry slip roads closed

Tuesday 7 March:

  • A1 Northbound between Little Paxton to Brampton Lane 2 closed
  • A14 Westbound between Junction 28 & Junction 27 Lane 1 closed

Wednesday 8 March:

  • A1 Northbound between Little Paxton to Brampton Lane 2 closed
  • A14 Westbound between Junction 28 & Junction 27 Lane 1 closed

Thursday 9 and Friday 10 March:

  • A1 Northbound between Little Paxton to Brampton Lane 2 closed

A14 Cambridgeshire: drainage repairs

Highways England is undertaking investigations and repairs to the drainage system of the A14 between junctions 35 (Stoke cum Quy) and 32 (Girton – M11 interchange). There will be Westbound lane closures between 8pm and 6am while we are working overnight, with all works on weekdays only.

On Friday evening we are working on the A14 Eastbound direction with the inside lane closed between junctions 34 and 35.

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.

A47 Hockering to Easton: road surface repairs

Highways England will be working to repair the road surface at various sections of the A47 between Hockering and Easton. This will be done between Wednesday 8 March and Saturday 1 April, working from 8pm to 6am on weeknights only.

To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will have mixture of traffic lights and full road closures in place while we are working. When the A47 is closed overnight between Monday 27 March and Saturday 1 April, there will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers heading eastbound will be diverted off the A47 at Swaffham and directed as follows:

  • take the A1065 to Fakenham
  • take the A148
  • take the A1067 east to Norwich
  • take the A140 Norwich Ring Road
  • take the A1075 Dereham Road to re-join the A47 at Longwater

Drivers heading westbound will directed to exit the A47 at Norwich, taking:

  • the A11 south west from Thickthorn roundabout to Thetford
  • then the A134 north to Mundford
  • then the A1065 north to Swaffham to re-join the A47

Local traffic will be permitted along the A47 up until the point of the closure, and those needing access to properties through the closure will be able to approach the gateman to be escorted through.

A120 and A12 Essex: essential maintenance work

We are completing essential maintenance work on the A120 and the A12 in Essex, which will be ongoing until May. This work will include resurfacing, safety barrier repairs, and bridge repairs, with work taking place between Braintree and Marks Tey, near Colchester, at Kelvedon, and at Wix. Unless detailed otherwise, work will be taking place between 8pm and 6am.

This week we are resurfacing the road and footpaths and replacing street lights, fencing and road signs on the A120 between Marks Tey and Marks Farm from Monday 6 to Friday 10 March, under night time (8pm-6am) temporary traffic signals at Coggleshall and Marks Tey. In addition, there will be full closures between the Dolphin pub and Blackwater Aggregates junction Bradwell between Wednesday 8 and Friday 10 March.

Chitts Hill Footbridge A12 north of the junction 26

We are repairing bridge joints and water proofing, resurfacing of the carriageway. Bridge will be closed to pedestrians from Monday 6 to Sunday 13 March. Pedestrians will be diverted slightly further west over the Halstead road crossing.

A120 Blackwater Bridge Bradwell Village

There is a full closure of A120 Blackwater bridge (Bradwell) from Friday 10 at 8pm to Monday 13 at 6am. Diversion is via A12/A130/A131. The footpath will be accessible but reduced in width to 1.2m to allow bridge deck investigative works. The works will only take place on a day time, but the pedestrian management will be in place for safety 24 hours a day.

We are repairing drainage on the A120 Wix bypass on nights from Monday 6 to Friday 10 March. There will be night time (8pm-5am) traffic lights in place and a 40mph speed limit while we are working. Replacing the central reservation safety barrier on the A120 between junction 29 of the A12 (Crown Interchange) to Hare Green (between the B1029 and the A133). There will be narrow lanes westbound with a 50mph limit in place in both directions 24/7. In addition there will be a lane 2 closure eastbound between Monday 6 and Friday 10 March overnight.

We are repairing bridge joints on the A12 Ewell Bridge near Kelvedon. Bridge closed to pedestrians 24/7 until scheme is completed April 2017. Pedestrians who cross over Ewell Bridge westbound from its connection with Windmill Hill will be diverted head south on Windmill Hill to its junction with Highfields Lane, then along Highfields Lane, heading towards Kelvedon, before crossing Maldon Road Bridge to the junction with Ewell Hall Chase, and finally join Ewell Hall Chase to meet with the public right of way in the vicinity of Ewell Hall Farm. Pedestrians wishing to cross eastbound, the diversion is the reverse of the above.

Porter Park Bridge A12 north of junction 19

We are repairing bridge joints and water proofing, resurfacing of the carriageway and footpath. Closed to all vehicles 24/7. Diversion, (southbound) B1137, A130, Essex Regiment way, Wheelers Hill, Leigh’s Road, Drakes Lane, Boreham Road, Waltham Road, B1137. The northbound diversion is the reverse of the southbound. Pedestrian access is maintained.

A421: Technology Installation (automatic traffic counting sites)

Highways England will be cutting new traffic detector loops cutting in the carriageway and slip road surfaces and installing associated equipment in the verges on the A421 between Marsh Leys Interchange and Elstow Interchange, the works will be carried out using slip road closure and carriageway closure overnight between 9pm and 6am from Monday 6 and Friday 10 March. During the slip road closures traffic wishing to enter or leave the A421 will be diverted on or off the trunk road at the nearest open slip road and return to the original junction via the opposite carriageway in order to continue their journey.

A428 Eltisley: street lighting and road markings

Highways England will be improving street lighting and road markings on the A428 through Eltisley. This will be done between Monday 6 March and Friday 31 March. During the works we will have traffic lights in place while we are working. As part of this work, it will be necessary for road to be closed overnight on some dates. Where the A428 is closed westbound, drivers will be diverted to take the A1198 northbound at Caxton Gibbet roundabout, then at Godmanchester follow the A14 westbound to junction 21 at Brampton Hut, then take the A1 southbound and follow the A1 southbound to Wyboston junction roundabout, where the diversion ends. Drivers heading eastbound will follow this diversion in reverse.

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 6 March 2017