Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 17 to Sunday 23 October 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.
New work
Various roads: street lighting 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, with no impact on road users
M11 Cambridge: technology works
We are installing technology used to measure traffic on the M11 northbound at the junction 13 (A1303 - Madingley) exit slip roads. We will close one lane of the M11 northbound between junctions 12 (A603 – Cambridge) and 13 and will also be closing the junction 13 exit slip road overnight on Thursday 20 October. Drivers will be diverted to take the M11 northbound to junction 14, onto the A14 eastbound to junction 32, then return on the A14 westbound onto the A428 to Hardwick, and turn around back onto the A428 eastbound to leave at Madingley/A1303 exit slip road, where the diversion will end.
A1 Little Paxton: barrier renewal
We are repairing the verge crash barriers of the A1 as it passes under the B1041 through Little Paxton, between St Neots and Huntingdon. We will be working from Monday 17 to Friday 28 October, between 8pm and 6am on weekdays only. We will close one lane of the A1 while we are working, and have a 50mph speed limit in place throughout the duration of the works. This lane closure will be southbound from Monday 17 to Friday 21 October, and northbound from Monday 24 to Friday 28 October.
A14 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 reprofiling 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 central lane closed between junctions 32 and 33.
A428 Wyboston: bridge repairs
We are doing repair work to the bridge as the A428 passes over the River Great Ouse. We will be working from Monday 17 to Friday 28 October, between 8pm and 6am on weekdays only. We will close the stretch of the A428 between the St Neots Tesco roundabout and the Wyboston Lakes roundabout for the A1 while we are working. Eastbound drivers will be diverted to continue on the A1 north to Brampton hut at Huntingdon, then take the A14 south east to junction 31, then take the A428 westbound towards Wyboston to return. Drivers heading westbound will be diverted off at junction 31 of the A14 to follow this diversion in reverse. Local traffic can take Barford Road into Eynesbury and St Neots.
Ongoing 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
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 17 to Friday 21 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 17 to Friday 21 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 northbound at junction 7 (Harlow). The hard shoulder is closed at junction 7 while we are working. We expect this work to be completed by late October.
Repairing an embankment on the M11 southbound 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 junction 6 (Lewknor) to 8 (A40) from Monday 17 to Sunday 23 October, with one lane running each night.
The northbound exit slip roads will be closed overnight at junctions 7 and 8, with drivers diverted to continue to the next junction, exit and return.
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 M40 southbound entry and exit slip roads at junction 8A (A40 – Wheatley) on Thursday 20 October, and on the northbound slip roads on Friday 21 October.
From Saturday 22 to Monday 24 October, we will be working on the:
- northbound entry slip road and southbound exit slip road at junction 6 (Lewknor)
- northbound exit slip road and southbound entry slip road at junction 7 (A329)
- Oxford Spur in both directions at junction 8 (A40), plus the northbound exit slip road and southbound entry slip road to and from the A418
- northbound exit slip road and southbound entry slip road at junction 8A (A40 – Wheatley)
- M40 in both directions between junctions 6 and 8A: drivers heading northbound will be diverted to exit at junction 6, take the B4009 to the A40 London Road, then the A418 to rejoin the M40 at junction 8A; drivers heading southbound will follow this diversion in reverse
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.
We are also working on the A5 southbound between the A509 Portway Interchange (H5) and A4146 Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout. On Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 October the road will be closed and drivers will be diverted to take A509 Portway, V6, Bletcham Way and Watling Street (V4) to re-join the A5 southbound at A4146 Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout. From Wednesday 19 October 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 17 to Friday 21 October.
We are also carrying out routine overhead gantry inspections between junction 10 and 13. From Monday 17 to Friday 21 October 2016, there will be overnight off peak lane closures in place on M1 north & southbound while we inspect gantries between junction 11 and 13.. This work will also include overnight closure of M1 J11 southbound exit slip road each night from Monday 17 to Friday 21 October, and M1 J13 northbound exit slip road on Monday 17 & Tuesday 18 October between 10pm and 6am.
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.
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.
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.
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 at various locations and some temporary lane or carriageway closures are planned so these can be carried out safely. During carriageway closures, which will be advertised in advance, diversions will be clearly signed.
In addition, the A1198 between Wood Green Animal Shelter and Papworth Everard will be closed from Saturday 22 October 2016 at 8am until Monday 24 October 2016 at 5am to allow for the installation of plant crossing points.
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 ongoing 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 westbound between Cambourne and Caxton Gibbet roundabout (junction with the A1198), with the road closed while we are resurfacing it. We expect to complete this section by Monday 17 October.
Drivers travelling westbound 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.
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.