Press release

Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 10 - Sunday 16 November 2014

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.

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New work

A5 Brickhill Bypass northbound, Milton Keynes: Resurfacing

We are carrying out works to resurface the northbound A5 at Brickhill Bypass, near Milton Keynes. We will also renew road markings and road studs at this location. The works will start on Monday 10 November, and we plan to finish them by Tuesday 25 November. We will be working between 9pm and 6am on weeknights only. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works we will need to close the A5 Northbound in two phases:

Phase 1: The diversion route will be as follows:

  • Exit A5 northbound at Watling Street junction (Little Brickhill)
  • Continue north along Watling Street re-entering the A5 at the entry slip road.

Phase 2: The diversion route will be as follows:

  • Exit A5 northbound at A505 junction (Houghton Regis)
  • Continue along A505 westbound entering A4146
  • Continue along A4146, northbound till its junction with the A5 to the north of Little Brickhill
  • Re-enter the A5 at the A4146 junction.

A14 J29 – J26 westbound: Resurfacing

We will be carrying out works to resurface the A14 westbound between junctions 29 (Bar Hill) and 26 (Fenstanton). The work includes carriageway resurfacing and patching, the renewal of road markings and road studs. The majority of work will be carried out overnight, between 10pm and 6am. There will be overnight closures of the westbound carriageway from Thursday 13 November to Friday 28 November. During the overnight closures clearly signed diversion routes will be in place via the A428 and A1. Access for residents will be retained at all times, with local residents who require access escorted past the road works by members of the site team.

A421 Bedford Southern Bypass westbound: Drainage clearance

We will be carrying out works to clear drainage gullies westbound along the A421 Bedford Southern Bypass. The works will start on Monday 10 November and we have scheduled them to finish by Friday 21 November. We will be working between 8pm and 6pm on weeknights only. We will use lane closures to keep road users at a safe distance from the works; we will also need to close the exit slip road at Elstow (A6). Traffic will be diverted along the A421 westbound to the A428 junction. From there traffic for Elstow will be diverted back along the A421 eastbound to the Elstow junction to resume their journey.

A12 Nayland Road northbound, Colchester: Bridge joint repair works

We will be carrying out works to repair bridge joints on the A12 northbound where it crosses Nayland Road, near Colchester. We will start works on Monday 10 November and we plan to finish them by Friday 14 November. We will work between 8pm and 6am, and to keep road users at a safe distance from the works we will need to close the A12 northbound between junction 27 (Spring Lane) and junction 29 (Ardleigh Crown). Northbound traffic will be diverted eastbound from junction 27 along A133 Cymbeline Way / Avenue of Remembrance and continue to the junction with A1232 Ipswich Road, where it will be diverted northbound along the A1232 to rejoin the A12 at junction 29.

A47 Lingwood to Blofield, Norwich: Resurfacing works

We will be carrying out works to resurface the A47 eastbound between Lingwood and Blofield near Norwich. We will start the works on Tuesday 11 November and we plan to finish them by Saturday 15 November. We will work between 8pm and 6am and to keep road users at a safe distance from the works we will need to close the A47 in both directions between the Cucumber Lane roundabout and the Acle roundabout. Westbound traffic will be diverted off the A47 at Trowse Newton, along the A146 Loddon Road / Norwich Road to Gillingham, then northbound along the A143 until its junction with the A12 at Great Yarmouth, then northbound along the A12 till its junction with the A47 and then westbound along the A47. Eastbound traffic will follow the diversion route in reverse. NB: Local traffic will be able to access the A47 outside the closure limits and should follow the temporary diversion signs as directed.

A47 Hockering, Norfolk: Fence repairs

Work to repair a boundary fence at The Street (West) junction in Hockering on the A47 will take place between 10 November and 14 November. The work is not expected to cause any disruption to traffic.

A14 River Kennett & Snailwell Road westbound, Newmarket: Bridge Joint Repairs

We will be carrying out works to replace bridge joints on the A14 westbound where it crosses the River Kennett & Snailwell Road, at Newmarket. We will start the works on Saturday 15 November and have planned them to finish on Sunday 16 November. We will work between 8pm and 6am and to keep road users at a safe distance from the works we will need to close the A14 westbound between junction 39 and junction 37 (Newmarket). We will also need to close the westbound entry slip road at junction 38 (Waterhall Interchange). Westbound traffic from junction 39 will be diverted along the B1506 Bury Road / Well Bottom, onto the southboundA1304 Bury Road, and then northbound on the A142 Fordham Road to its junction with the A14 at junction 37. Westbound traffic wishing to join the A14 at junction 38 will be diverted southbound along the A1304 Bury Road as above.

Ongoing work

M1 J10-10A Luton spur, Bedfordshire: Widening

Luton Borough Council is carrying out carriageway re-alignment and construction of a grade separated junction on the approach to the airport between J10 and J10A of the M1. During the work, there will be lane closures between 9pm and 6am with narrow lanes remaining in place 24 hours a day in both directions and 30 and 50mph speed limits for safety reasons. Work will be carried out in phases with completion planned for June 2015. For further details, contact Luton Borough Council Highways on 01582 510330 or visit www.luton.gov.uk.

A1 Alconbury to Brampton Hut, Cambridgeshire, southbound carriageway works: Resurfacing

We will be carrying out works to repair sections of worn-out carriageway (patching) along the A1 southbound between Alconbury and Brampton Hut near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. We will also be removing and replacing traffic detection loops in both directions at this location. We will start works on Wednesday 5 November and have planned them to finish by Saturday 15 November. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works we will need to close the A1 in both directions between Alconbury and Brampton Services (located at the A1 / A14 junction). Southbound traffic will be diverted off the A1 at junction 14 and continue along the southbound A1(M) until it reaches the junction with A14 at junction 23. From there traffic will be directed westbound along the A14 until its junction with A1. Northbound A1 traffic will follow this diversion in reverse.

A1, Black Cat roundabout, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire: Improvements

A scheme to ease congestion and improve journey time and safety (part of the Government’s £317m pinch point programme, which aims to boost local economies by reducing congestion and delays at key locations) has started. 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 work will normally take place between 7.30am and 5.30pm from Monday to Friday, with the occasional night time lane closures. Narrow lanes will be introduced from 3rd November southbound and 4th November northbound. On Friday 14th November and Saturday 15th November, from 9pm until 6am, each night, the A1 southbound will be completely closed to carry out essential tie-in works from new to existing carriageway. The diversion will be via the Wyboston/A428 interchange and Barford Road rejoining the A1 at Tempsford. During the road closures only, traffic will only be able to travel along Barford Road southbound, and its weight restriction will be lifted temporarily. There will also be various single lane closures between 10th and 16th November on both north and southbound A1 and A421. Subject to weather conditions, the work is scheduled to last for approximately six months. There will also be various single lane closures between 3rd and 9th November on both north and southbound A1 and A421. Subject to weather conditions, the work is scheduled to last for approximately six months.

This scheme aims to provide a link to the M1 that is an alternative to the movement along the A5 and A505 from the A5/A505 junction to the M1 Junction 11. It would reduce journey times and improve journey reliability for strategic traffic currently travelling through Dunstable. It also aims to reduce the number of vehicle and safety related incidents and will support local development plans, economic growth and employment and maximise the return on public investment. Advanced works started on site in May 2014. Continuation of these works will require some road closures, which will be publicised in advance. These works are important as they will help stay on target for the planned start of the main construction work in spring 2015. The planned completion date for the project is early 2017. For more information, visit http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/A5-M1-Link-Dunstable-Northern-Bypass

A11 Fiveways to Thetford, Suffolk: Major upgrade

Work is taking place along the A11 between Fiveways roundabout (Barton Mills) and London Road (Thetford roundabout) to dual the last section of the road. The Elveden bypass between Chalk Hall Farm (south of Elveden) to London Rd roundabout at Thetford is now open to traffic and two-way traffic is also running on some new sections of carriageway. During the works, there will be a temporary speed restriction of 40mph throughout the scheme as well as some overnight closures and temporary traffic management as follows:

  • Two way temporary traffic signals are in use as follows:
    • Two-way portable traffic signals will be in operation on the B1106, Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm daily, when required.
    • Overnight on the A11, when required. When in use, these will be in operation between 7pm and 6am.
  • Work to re-configure the Elveden cross-roads (B1106 & old A11 junction) will continue this week.
  • The C616 is closed at its junction with the A11. Access will be maintained via the A1065, Brandon Road.
  • The Non-Motorised User Underpass near the Elveden War Memorial will be opening in the early hours of Saturday 8th November 2014. Please not the layby near the monument will still be closed to traffic; however, people wishing to access the monument on Sunday 9th November 2014 will be escorted into the layby for that day only.

The planned completion date is December 2014. For further details of this scheme, visit: http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a11-fiveways-to-thetford-improvement/

A14 J31 – J29 westbound: Resurfacing

Work is taking place to resurface the A14 westbound between junctions 31 (Girton) and 29 Bar Hill. The work includes carriageway resurfacing and patching, the renewal of road markings and road studs. The majority of work will be carried out overnight, between 10pm and 6am. There will be overnight closures of the westbound carriageway from Tuesday 28 October to Friday 14 November. During the overnight closures clearly signed diversion routes will be in place: Traffic will use the A428 and A1. Access for residents will be retained at all times, with local residents who require access escorted past the road works by members of the site team.

A14 Brampton to Ellington, Cambridgeshire: Ditch clearance

Work to clear the ditch of vegetation and silt on the A14 between Brampton Hut and Ellington village started on 20 October for approximately eight weeks. The work is carried out under lane closures at night time only (mainly on the westbound carriageway but there will be some eastbound work) between 8pm and 5am, when traffic flows are lower.

A14 Girton to Histon (junctions 31 to 32): Lane gain scheme

On 14 April 2014 work started 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. This is part of the Government’s Pinch point Programme. The work is scheduled to take place mainly during the day, with existing lanes narrowed and a 50mph speed limit imposed. For week beginning 10 Novemebr, there are no planned road closures. There may however be periodic lane closures on other nights, however two lanes will be maintained in each direction during the day to support peak time traffic flows. For more information, visit http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/A14-Junction-31-to-32-Eastbound-and-Westbound-Improvements.

A47 Postwick, Norfolk: Postwick Hub junction upgrade

Norfolk County Council started work to upgrade the Postwick Hub junction over the A47 on 12 May 2014. For the duration of the work, there will be an eastbound lane 1 closure and a temporary 50mph speed limit on the A47. In addition, work will require some overnight closures on the A47 from time to time, which will be advertised in advance by the council. Work is due to be completed by winter 2015. For further details, contact Norfolk County Council on 0344 800 8020 or visit www.norfolk.gov.uk.

Updates to this page

Published 7 November 2014