Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 18 to Sunday 24 January 2016
Summary of work being carried out this 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.
New work
M40 junction 1A to 10, Bucks and Oxfordshire: overhead signs replacement
We are replacing the overhead message signs on the M40 between London and Bicester with new models. There will be hard shoulder closures and we will be working between 9.30am and 4.30pm as work begins. This work will be completed by early March.
Ongoing work
Cycle improvements schemes, Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, Bedfordshire
We are building or improving cycle paths at 17 locations across the East of England including on the A12, A120, A47 and A5. The work includes 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 – High Street/Old Nelson:
Work to the existing crossing at the Artillery Way/Old Nelson Street/High Street junction started on 11 January for 6 weeks. The existing controlled pedestrian crossing will be removed and replaced with a realigned crossing along High Street, including the installation of new signage, surfacing and pavements to its approaches.
Work will be carried out under off peak lane closures using 2 way temporary traffic signals between 9:30am and 3:30pm. The existing pedestrian crossing will be decommissioned and a temporary crossing put in place for the duration of the works.
Night work will be required to install the traffic signal connections between 6:30pm and 7am.
A12 Lowestoft: Gunton Hall pinch point
Work to the existing eastern footpath between Gunton Avenue & Bentley Drive Roundabout will start on 18 January for 4 weeks. The existing eastern footpath will be widened, operations include the removal of trees, reconstruction and installation of new signage, fencing, resurfacing and lining.
Work will be carried out under lane closures using 2 way temporary traffic signals between 9:30am and 3:30pm.
Night work may be required for surfacing and road markings between 6:30pm and 7am.
A12 Lowestoft Camden Street/High Street
Work to the existing eastern and western footpaths on A12 Jubilee Way between St Margaret’s Street and Camden Street will start on 18 January for 5 weeks. The work includs the installation of a new toucan crossing and localised widening of the existing eastern and western footways, as well as installation of new kerbs, street lighting and signage.
Work will be carried out under lane closures between 9:30am and 3:30pm. Night work will be required for the traffic signal connections, street lighting installation, surfacing and street markings between 6:30pm and 7am.
M1, A421, A5, Bedfordshire: improvements
A package of works to repair or resurface carriageways, replace and install new signs, replace road markings, upgrade lighting cables and install new LED lighting heads on the M1, A421 and A5 in Bedfordshire started last month and is planned for completion in January 2016. The work is part of Highways England’s commitment to improve safety and ensure better journey experiences across the East region’s busiest roads.
Work to resurface the carriageway on the A5 between Half Moon and Beech Road will take place overnight on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 January from 8pm until 6am.
During this work the A5 will be closed in both directions and traffic will be diverted via the A4146 and A505 roundabout. Local residents who require access will be escorted past the roadworks.
You can stay informed of latest closures and works on our website.
M11, A14, Cambridgeshire: improvements
A package of work to carry out resurfacing, safety barrier renewal, bridge repairs, embankment repairs, replacing and installing new signs, repairing damaged kerbs and replacing road markings on the A14 and M11 in Cambridgeshire, has started and will continue until the end of June. The work is part of Highways England’s commitment to improve safety and ensure better journey experiences across the East region’s busiest roads.
You can stay informed of latest closures and works on our website.
We are repairing the embankment and the bridge on the A1307 Huntingdon Road. A lane closure is in place in both directions as well as a 40mph speed limit, to remain in place 24 hours a day with the other lane remaining open. We are completing the road markings on the A14 between junction 26 (Hemingford) and 29 (Bar Hill) eastbound, with the road closed eastbound between 8pm and 6am on Tuesday 19 January. Traffic will leave at junction 26 and return via the A14 westbound to junction 23, then southbound on A1 to the A428. All traffic for the A14 eastbound between junctions 26 and 29 will continue eastbound on the A428/A14 to junction 32 (Histon) and return westbound on the A14 to junction 30 (Dry Drayton). A14 traffic for the M11 south will follow the same diversion and exit the A14 west at junction 31 (Girton).
We are renewing and restoring the safety barrier in the centre of the road between junctions 31 (M11 interchange) and 34 (Horningsea). We will be working between 8pm and 6am, with work starting on Monday 11 January and expected to take eight weeks. While we are working there will be lane closures in both directions between the junctions. On Wednesday 13 January one lane will be closed westbound between junctions 33 and 32 between 8pm and 6am.
M11 Stansted Airport to M25: carriageway repairs
We are repairing and improving the M11 between junctions 8 (Stansted Airport) and 6 (M25). Work should be completed by the end of February. There will be lane closures and speed restrictions throughout the works and a number of road closures between junctions 8 and 7, with all work taking place between 10pm and 6am. This week we will be working southbound between junctions 8 (Stansted Airport) and 7 (Harlow), with the M11 closed between the two junctions on 21 and 22 January. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers will take the A120 west to Bishop’s Stortford, the A1184 through Sawbridgeworth onto the A414 at Harlow before rejoining the M11 southbound at junction 7.
A1(M) Huntingdon to Peterborough: overhead signs replacement
We are replacing the overhead message signs on the A1(M) between Huntingdon and Peterborough with new models. The first phase of work will involve closing the hard shoulder only. The second phase, which will start on 25 January, will require overnight lane and slip roads closures, which will be clearly signposted in advance. During the slip road closures, there will be a clearly signed diversion diverting traffic via the next A1(M) junction.
There will be a third phase of work between end February and March to switch the signs on, which will also require lane and slip road closures. The work is planned for completion in spring 2016.
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 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 also be overnight lane closures when required, which will be clearly signed.
Work on the A5
On the A5, travelling from the A505, roundabout traffic has been realigned and now runs on the east side of the carriageway on one lane in each direction to allow for embankment work. Overnight three way traffic lights will be on A5/A505 between 8pm and 6pm.
To note that until mid-January the A5 will be closed in both directions between 8pm and 6am between Houghton Regis (Thorn Road) and Hockliffe Road for repair work. This work is not part of the A5-M1 link scheme.
Work on the major improvement is due to complete in spring 2017. For more information, visit the scheme web page.
A12 Essex: improvements
We are working to improve the A12 in Essex and Suffolk, making the road safer and improving the road surface. We are also putting in place new signs to make the road easier to navigate. Work at various locations along the route will be ongoing until spring 2016. The work is part of Highways England’s commitment to improve safety and ensure better journey experiences across the East region’s busiest roads. Works take place overnight between 8pm and 6am and not at weekends so as to minimise disruption for drivers.
You can stay informed of latest closures and works on our website.
We are upgrading and replacing the safety barrier and putting up new signs between Langham and Stratford St Mary, with works ongoing until the end of January. There are lane closures and a reduced speed limit in place for the works.
We are improving drainage and an embankment at Chelmsford, with work expected to be completed by mid-February. There will be lane closures while we are working.
We are resurfacing a section of carriageway near Holton St Mary overnight on Monday 18 January. While we are working the northbound A12 will be closed between junctions 29 and 31, with a clearly signed diversion route directing drivers to exit at junction 29 and follow the A1232 and A137 to join the A14 westbound at junction 56, then re-join the A12 at junction 55.
We are resurfacing the northbound entry slip road and sections of the southbound entry and exit slip roads at junction 32B near Capel St Mary. We will be working overnight from Tuesday 19 to Tuesday 26 January. The slip roads will be closed consecutively with lane closures in place on the A12. For the northbound entry slip road closure, drivers will be directed to join the A12 southbound and continue to junction 32A and return northbound. For the southbound exit slip road closure, drivers will be directed to continue to junction 32A and return northbound to exit at junction 32B. For the southbound entry slip road closure, drivers will be directed to join the A12 northbound and continue to junction 33 and return southbound.
A14 Ipswich, Suffolk: Orwell Bridge safety improvements
Work to introduce a new speed limit, improve road markings and install new traffic signs as part of a package of measures to improve safety on the A14 Orwell Bridge in Suffolk is underway and is expected to complete by spring 2016. This work will also see the installation of average speed cameras enforcing a new speed limit of 60mph.
Most of the work will be carried out between 8pm and 6am involving lane closures and some road closures between junctions 56 to 57 with some minor work taking place on the verges during the day.
There are lanes closed on the A14 in both directions between junctions 55 and 58 between 10pm and 5am until mid-March (weekdays only). Laybys are closed eastbound on the same stretch of road.
A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme: topographical surveys
From 19 October to 19 January we are carrying out topographical, drainage and pavement surveys for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme.
These surveys allow us to map the layout and level of the existing road, drainage network and adjacent land, as well as understand the ground we will be building on, 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 would 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 will take place at night only (between 8pm and 6am) to minimise any disruption to traffic. No heavy machinery or plant equipment will be used.
Lane closures are currently scheduled overnight on:
- Monday 18 to Tuesday 19 January: M11 junction 14 and A14 westbound junction 31 (Girton) to junction 28A (Robins Lane) (ground penetrating radar)
- Monday 18 to Tuesday 19 January: A14 eastbound junction 26 (St Ives) to junction 28A (Robins Lane) (pavement & drainage survey)
- Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 January: A14 junction 33 (Milton) outer ring management (street lighting survey)
- Wednesday 20 January: A14 westbound junction 30 (Dry Drayton) to junction 27 (Fenstanton) (pavement and topographical survey)
- Wednesday 20 January: A14 eastbound junction 26 (St Ives) to junction 30 (Dry Drayton) (pavement and topographical survey)
- Thursday 21 to Friday 22 January: M11 junction 14 and A14 westbound 31 (Girton) to junction 28A (Robins Lane) (ground penetrating radar)
- Thursday 21 January: A14 westbound slip to M11 southbound closed with diversion to A14 junction 30 and back to M11(pavement & topographical survey)
- Thursday 21 to Friday 22 January: A1/A14 Brampton Hut outer ring management (street lighting survey)
- Thursday 21 to Friday 22 January: A14 eastbound junction 28 (Swavesey) to junction 31 (Girton) (pavement and topographical survey)
- Friday 22 January: A14 junction 31 slip road (Girton) onto A14 Cambridge Northern Bypass slip road closure with diversion via M11 junction 12 and back north on M11 to junction 31 (pavement and topographical survey)
- Sunday 24 January: A14 junction 31 (Girton) to junction 33 (Milton) (bridge inspection) 03.00hrs to 10.00hrs
A138 Chelmer Village, Chelmsford, Essex: Chelmer Viaduct replacement
Work to rebuild the viaduct at Chelmer on the A138 started on 17 March 2015. The major improvement work on the Chelmer Viaduct in Chelmsford will take approximately 18 months to complete.
The reinforced deck construction is nearly completed on the south side and ongoing on the north. The earthworks are well advanced either side of the main viaduct structure. All daytime site work is carried out off-line so daytime traffic is not affected by the ongoing works.
Construction work will take place at the ends of the new viaduct next to the Army and Navy and Chelmer Village Way roundabouts from Tuesday 19 January 2016 until Friday 22 January 2016 between 8pm and 6am. The work will involve excavations to remove existing kerb-lines, barriers and street lights and establish a new kerb alignment. During the work, traffic on the road will be controlled by single lane running on both the north and southbound carriageway.
Highways England is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads.
For the safety of road workers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:
- keep within the speed limit – it is there for your safety.
- get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching.
- concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.
- be alert for works’ traffic leaving or entering roadworks.
- keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front.
- observe all signs – they are there to help you.
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.