Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 10 to Sunday 16 October 2016
Planned new and ongoing road improvements over the 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
Various roads: routine inspections
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 A47 heading from Norwich towards Kings Lynn, with impact on road users
- the A1 around Biggleswade, with no impact on road users
M40 Banbury: message sign upgrades
We are upgrading three visual messaging signs on the M40 between junctions 10 (A43 – Ardley) and 11 (A422 – Banbury), working between 8pm and 5am on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 October. The hard shoulder, left hand and central lanes will be closed while we are working.
A12 Essex: road surface surveys
We are investigating the road surface of the A12 southbound in Essex between junctions 20B (Hatfield Peveral) and 22 (B1389 – Witham north). We will be doing this from Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 October, using a slow moving mobile lane closure and two way traffic lights between the junctions while we are working from 8pm to 6am. These surveys allow us to map the layout and measure the condition of the existing road, allowing us to determine areas of concern to be considered for resurfacing in the future.
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, working between 8pm and 5am. This week we are repairing barriers on the M11 in both directions from Monday 10 to Friday 14 October 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 10 to Friday 14 October.
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.
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: http://www.highways.gov.uk/m40-junction-6-to-8.
This week there will be overnight lane closures northbound from junctions 6 (Lewknor) to 8 (A40 – Wheatley) from Monday 10 to Sunday 16 October, with one lane running each night.
The northbound exit slip roads at junctions 6 and 7 (Milton Common) will also be closed overnight and a 50mph speed limit will be in place throughout the works, 24/7
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. Unless stated otherwise, these closures will see traffic diverted to continue to the next junction, to exit and return.
This week we are:
Working on the Oxford spur (A40) from the M40 diverge point at junction 8 in both directions, and also the A418 entry slip road with the A40 and the exit slip roads to the A418 in both directions. This will be from Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 October.
Working on the entry and exit slip roads at junction 12 (Bishop’s Itchington), northbound from Thursday 13 to Friday 14 October and southbound from Friday 14 to Saturday 15 October.
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 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.
There will be overnight lane closures on the M1 between junction 11 and 12 for ongoing verge and central reserve works from Monday 10 to Friday 14 October.
We are also carrying out routine overhead gantry inspections between junction 10 and 13. From Monday 10 to Friday 14 October 2016, there will be overnight off peak lane closures in place on M1 southbound while we inspect gantries between junction 11 and 10.
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 until Friday 7 October where the new road layout changes are introduced. 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.
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.
In addition, there will be overnight road closures of the A5 between the A505 and Dunstable Road, and Thorn Road in place during the hours of 9pm to 6am on Thursday 6 & Friday 7 October to allow resurfacing and new road layout changes to be completed.
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 2 and 3-way traffic lights for UKPN work to 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.
Monday night 10 October we require a northbound and southbound lane 2 closures over the bridge to complete the installation of the centre reserve bridge joint. Works to this scheme will then be completed and we will remove all traffic management.
A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire: major improvements
We are currently carrying out topographical, drainage, pavement, existing services and street lighting surveys ahead of main construction starting on a scheme to improve the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon. 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 will 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.
Surveys are currently scheduled for the following dates and locations:
Monday 10 October during the daytime at Kings Hedges Road underpass, Cambridge. Traffic will be managed with manual stop and go signs.
Monday 10 October overnight only on the A14 eastbound between junctions 26 and 32. Lanes 1 and 2 will be closed.
Monday 10 October overnight only on the A14 eastbound between junctions 26 and 31. Lane 1 will be closed.
Monday 10 October overnight only on the A14 roundabout at junction 32. Lane 1 will be closed.
Monday 10 October overnight only on the A14 westbound between junctions 31 and junction 27. Lane 1 will be closed.
From Monday 10 to Friday 15 October during the daytime only between 9.30am and 3.30pm at Ermine Street in Godmanchester, at Bar Hill, at High Street Boxworth, and at Potton Road and Offord Road in Offord. Traffic will be managed with two-way traffic lights.
From Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 October overnight only on the A14 eastbound between junctions 26 and 31. Lane 1 or lane 2 will be closed.
From Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 October overnight only on the A14 westbound between junctions 31 and 27. Lane 1, 2 or 3 will be closed.
Friday 14 October overnight only on the A14 westbound between M11 junction 14 and A14 junction 28. Lane 1 will be closed.
Friday 14 October overnight only on the A14 westbound at junction 31. Lane 1 of the entry slip road will closed.
A14 Newmarket: road surface investigations
We are completing investigative work on the A14 between junctions 39 (Kentford) and 44 (Moreton Hall) ahead of possible future improvement work. We will be working between Monday 3 and Monday 10 October, between 9pm and 6am on weeknights only.
We will close the slip roads while we are working on them. When the slip road is closed, there will be a clearly signed diversion route in place where local traffic will use the nearby local roads to leave/join the A14 and heavy traffic will head to the following junction, exit and return in the opposite direction. The slip roads will be closed as follows:
- junctions 42 and 44 westbound entries on Monday 10 October.
A47 Wisbech: road surface investigations
We are working to inspect the road surface of the A47 between Wisbech (junction with the A1101) and Guyhirn (junction with the A141) ahead of possible future improvement work. We will be working overnight on Tuesday 11 October, between 9pm and 6am. We will close the A47 between the two junctions while we are working.
Drivers heading eastbound will be directed to head south at Guyhirn on the A141; take the A142 at Chatteris; at Ely, take the A10 northbound past Littleport to Downham Market; take the A1122 northbound to Outwell, then; take the A1101 to re-join the A47 at Wisbech. Drivers heading westbound will follow this diversion in reverse.
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 Peterborough City Council 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 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.
From Tuesday 11 October we will be working between Cambourne and Caxton, with the road closed while we are resurfacing it. We expect to complete this section by Monday 17 October.
Drivers will be diverted off the A14 at junction 31 (Girton interchange) before it becomes the A428, then head northbound to Huntingdon, exit at junction 21 (Brampton Hut) and then take the A1 southbound to Wyboston Lakes, where they can re-join the A428 and head eastbound to Croxton.
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.