Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 12 to Sunday 18 December 2016
Planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week.
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.
A12 Hopton-on-Sea: safety barrier repairs
Highways England is repairing the safety barrier at the Jay Lane junction of the A12, near Hopton-on-Sea. They will be working from Monday 12 to Friday 23 December, between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only. The right hand lane will be closed in both directions while work is carried out. The speed limit will be reduced to 50mph and will remain in place during the day.
To keep drivers and road workers safe, we will have to close gaps in the central reservation opposite the junction of the A12 with:
- Jay Lane, Lound
- the private track to Boyton Farm
- the track to Homefield and Midway Nurseries
- Market Lane, Blundeston
- Stirrups Lane, Corton
Drivers wishing to cross the dual carriageway at these locations will be diverted on the A12 to the Rackham’s Corner and Station Road roundabouts to return on the opposite side of the road.
A47 Narborough: road resurfacing
Highways England will repair the road surface on the A47 in both directions between Narborough and Swaffham. Work will be completed overnight on Friday 16 December, between 8pm and 6am. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the A47 between Swaffham Road, Narborough and the A1122 Roundabout while we are working. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, where drivers heading eastbound will be diverted to Exit the A47 at the Hardwick Roundabout, King’s Lynn, taking the A10 south towards Downham Market. Then take the A134 south towards Thetford, then take the A1122 east towards Swaffham to re-join the A47 at the A1122 Roundabout.
Drivers who miss the King’s Lynn diversion will be turned around at Swaffham Road, Narborough to head back to King’s Lynn.
Drivers heading westbound will be diverted to exit the A47 at the A1122 Roundabout, taking the A1122 west towards Downham Market. Take the A10 north towards King’s Lynn to re-join the A47 at the Hardwick Roundabout.
A47 Shoreboat: road resurfacing
Highways England is working to repair the road surface of the A47 in both directions between Tilney All Saints and King’s Lynn. Work will be completed overnight on Saturday 17 December, between 8pm and 6am. To keep road users at a safe distance from the work, the A47 will be closed between Shoreboat Roundabout and the A17 Pullover Roundabout. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, where drivers heading eastbound will be diverted to exit the A47 at the A1101 Roundabout, taking the A1101 north through Wisbech. Continue on the A1101 north towards Long Sutton, then take the A17 east towards King’s Lynn to re-join the A47 at the Pullover Roundabout.
Drivers who miss the Wisbech diversion will be turned around at the Shoreboat Roundabout to head back to Wisbech.
Drivers heading westbound will be diverted to exit the A47 at the Hardwick Roundabout, King’s Lynn, taking the A10 south towards Downham Market. Take the A1122 west towards Wisbech, then continue onto the A1101 north towards Wisbech to re-join the A47 at the A1101 Roundabout
Drivers who miss the King’s Lynn diversion will be turned around at the A17 Pullover Roundabout to head back to Hardwick Roundabout.
Various roads: routine inspections 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 spring 2017. Work will include inspecting equipment on the:
- A5 with no impact on road users
- A47 which will consist of lane closures 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 12 to Friday 16 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
Highways England 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. 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).
M1 Luton: digital signage replacements
Highways England are replacing digital motorway signage on the M1 between junctions 9 (A5 Markyate) and 10 (A1081 Luton). They will be working overnight on weekdays only between 10pm and 5am, finishing on Thursday 15 December.
Work will start on signage at junctions 9 and 10, from Monday 12 to Thursday 15 December. The northbound entry slip road for the M1 at junction 9 will be closed on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 December, with traffic diverted to take the M1 southbound to junction 8, exit and return northbound. The northbound exit slip road at junction 10 will be closed on Thursday 15 December, with traffic diverted to continue north to junction 11, exit and return southbound. On Wednesday 14 December there will be single lane running on the M1 here, with the hard shoulder also closed.
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 12 to Friday 16 December.
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).
M40: major maintenance
Highways England 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 the M40 project page.
On Monday 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 clearly signed diversion routes in place.
Wednesday to Saturday there will be hard shoulder and slip road closures once again there will be clearly signed diversion routes in place.
A 50mph speed limit will be in place throughout the works.
A1 Buckden: road surface repairs
Highways England are repairing the A1 between the Buckden/B661 roundabout and Brampton junction 21 of the A14. They 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 12 to Friday 16 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. Exit at junction 32 and travel back west to junction 31a and take the A14 northbound to junction 23 Spittals interchange and left onto A14 junction 21/A1 at Brampton Hut.
A5 Dunstable: road repairs
Highways England is 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 on Tuesday 13 December, working between 8pm and 6am.
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. 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.
A5-M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass), Bedfordshire: major improvements
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 M1:
This week from Monday 12 December to Friday 16 December, there will be M1 lane closures between junctions 10 and 13 from 10pm to 6am for overhead gantry works.
There will be overnight M1 road closures between junction 11 and 12 as follows:
- Tuesday 13 December , M1 closed northbound from 10pm to 6am
- Wednesday 14 December, M1 closed southbound from 10pm to 6am
Alternative route:
M1 southbound junctions 12 to 11
The M1 southbound will be closed at junction 12. Diverted traffic to exit at junction 12 and turn right onto the A5120 through Toddington to Houghton Regis, turn left onto High Street and continue to the roundabout with The Green and Park Road north, taking the 3rd exit onto Park Road north to the roundabout with Poynters Rd, take the 3rd exit onto Poynters Road and follow to the roundabout with Poynters Road and A505 Dunstable Rd. Take the 1st exit onto A505 and continue along the A505 to junction 11 of the M1 and re-join southbound M1.
M1 northbound junctions 11 to 12
M1 northbound traffic to exit at junction 11 and turn left onto A505 Dunstable Road, at the roundabout at A505 and Poynters Road take the 3rd exit onto Poynters and continue to the roundabout with Poynters Road and Park Road North, take the 2nd exit and continue on Park Road North to the next roundabout and take the 1st exit onto The Green. Continue along to the High St to the roundabout with Bedford Rd (A5120), turn right onto Bedford Road and follow the A5120 via Toddington to M1 junction 12 and re-join the M1.
Work on the A5 and local roads
From Monday 12 December to Friday 16 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
Highways England is completing works to repair the drainage on the A11 northbound at Wymondham. They 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 and main construction work is now underway.
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. During the week commencing 12 December 2016 overnight lane or carriageway closures between 8pm and 6 am are planned for the following dates and locations to enable site clearance to take place.
Monday 12 December - Friday 16 December:
- A1 S/B between junction 15 to Junction 14 will have a closure of lanes 2, 3, and 4.
- full closure of the A1 SB between Alconbury to Brampton Hut
- A1 southbound exit slip road closed at Brampton Hut services junction 21
- A1 southbound entry slip road closed at Alconbury
- A14 westbound between Junction 30 to Junction 28 lane 1 closed
Monday 12 December - Tuesday 12 December: westbound access slip road closed at junction 29 Bar Hill. Vehicles will be diverted eastbound to junction 30 where they can join westbound carriageway.
Wednesday 13 December - Friday 16 December: westbound access slip road closed at junction 28 Swavesey. Vehicles will be diverted eastbound to junction 29 where they can join the westbound carriageway.
A14 Cambridgeshire: drainage repairs
Highways England is undertaking investigations and repairs to the drainage system of the A14 between junctions 32 (Girton – M11 interchange) and 35 (Stoke cum Quy). They 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 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 page.
A47 Norwich: road repairs
Highways England is 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, they plan to complete this work overnight by Wednesday 14 December, working between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only, with work starting at 11pm on Tuesday 13 December.
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 driverswill be diverted to exit at the Ipswich Road Interchange, taking the A140 north towards Norwich. Take the A146 Norwich Ring Road east towards Trowse, then take A1054 to join the A147, passing Norwich City Football Club. Take the A1242 Yarmouth Road east towards Thorpe St Andrew, then take the A1042 east to re-join the A47 at the Postwick Interchange.
Highways England is also working on the A47 westbound between Cucumber Lane roundabout, Brundall and the Postwick Interchange. Subject to weather conditions, we plan to carry out this work overnight between Wednesday 14 and Saturday 17 December, working between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only, with work starting at 11pm on Friday 16 December.
To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, they will close the A47 westbound between the two junctions while work is being carried out. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, where drivers will be diverted to turn around at Cucumber Lane roundabout to head east. Take the B1140 north towards South Walsham, then continue along the B1140 west past Salhouse. Take the A1042 Norwich Ring Road south east to re-join the A47 at Postwick Interchange.
A47 Wansford: slip road repairs
Highways England is repairing the road surface on slip roads at the junction of the A47 and A1 at Wansford, west of Peterborough. They will complete this work by Tuesday 13 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. They 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:
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.
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.