Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 31 October to Sunday 6 November 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.
A14 Felixstowe: road surface surveys
We are surveying the road surface along the A14 between junctions 58 (A12 – A1156 – Trinity Park) and 59 (Trimley St Mary) in both directions. This will start on the A14 westbound at junction 59 on Monday 31 October, finishing on Tuesday 1 November at junction 58. This will be done between 8pm and 5am, using lane closures and mobile closures.
A47 Thickthorn: road surface surveys
We are surveying the road surface along the A47 westbound from Watton to Thickthorn. This will start at Watton on Monday 31 October, finishing on Tuesday 1 November at Thickthorn. This will be done between 8pm and 5am, using lane closures and mobile closures.
A428 Wyboston Lakes roundabout: road surface repairs
We are resurfacing the A428 at the Wyboston Lakes roundabout with the A1. We will be starting work at 20:00 on Friday 4 November and finishing by 06:00 on Saturday 5 November. The A428 will be closed between the Wyboston Lakes and St Neots Tesco roundabouts while we are working, along with the entry and exit slips roads to and from the A1 at Wyboston. There will be a clearly signed diversion route in place, whereby drivers will be diverted to exit the A1 at Brampton Hut, then take the A14 south east towards Cambridge, then exit at junction 31A (Madingley) to either take the A428 west towards St Neots or continue east on the A14.
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 with no impact on road users
- A1 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 31 October to Friday 4 November 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).
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, with no impact on road users
- A1, with no impact on road users
M1 Hemel Hempstead: technology repairs
We are working to repair and replace faulty power cables for signage technology on the motorway, including overhead sign lighting, on the M1 between junctions 8 (Hemel Hempstead) and 9 (A5 – Markyate). We are working on weekdays and, if required, some Saturdays. The hard shoulder will be closed while we are working during the day, with lanes closure in place overnight. As part of these scheme works it will be necessary for some of the exit and entry slip roads of junctions 8 and 9 be closed overnight on specific dates, though not simultaneously. Where slip roads are closed, drivers will be diverted to continue on the M1 to the next junction, exit and return to leave the junction from the opposite direction.
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 31 October to Friday 4.
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 removing barriers that have been in place for work at junction 8 (Stansted Airport). The M11 southbound is closed overnight between junctions 10 (A505 – Duxford) and 8 while we are working, from Sunday 6 to Monday 7 November. Drivers will be diverted to take the A505 west to Royston, then the A10 south to Puckeridge, and the A120 east to re-join the M11 at junction 8.
M11 Bishop’s Stortford: traffic light repairs
We are upgrading the traffic lights at the roundabout of junction 8 (Bishop’s Stortford) of the M11, with work finishing by 6am on Monday 31 October. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the inner lane around the whole junction and one lane on southbound exit slip road from the M11.
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 the M40 scheme page.
This week we will have closures on the M40 northbound, with traffic using the hard shoulder on Monday 31 October and Tuesday 2 November. On Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 November the M40 will be closed southbound, with traffic diverted off at junction 8A. On Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November there will be three lanes running during the day and one overnight on the M40 southbound.
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 exit and entry slip roads at junction 2 (Beaconsfield), northbound on Tuesday 1 and southbound on Wednesday 2 November.
Working on the M40 slip roads at junctions 13 (Bishop’s Tachbrook) and 14 (A452 – Warwick). This will be the northbound exit slip road at junction 13 and entry slip road at junction 14 on Thursday 3 November, and the southbound exit slip road at junction 14 and southbound entry slip road at junction 13 on Friday 4 November.
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 southbound between the A509 Portway Interchange (H5) and A4146 Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout. The left hand lane is closed while we are working and a 50mph speed limit is 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 10 and 12 for ongoing gantry, verge and central reserve works from Monday 31 October to Friday 04 November.
There will be overnight road closures of the M1 between J11 and J12 from 10pm to 6am.
M1 southbound will be closed on Tuesday night 1st November.
M1 northbound will be closed on Wednesday night 2nd November.
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.
This week
There will be overnight road closures of the A5 and Thorn Road from Thursday 27 and Friday 28 October 2016 between the hours of 21:00 to 06:00.
A5 closed from A505/A5 roundabout near Chalk Hill to the junction with A5 and Dunstable Road.
Thorn Road closed between Thorn Farm Access Road and the A5.
Alternative routes
Thorn Road Closure alternative route – A5120 Bedford Road to the junction with A5120 High Street, turn right onto A5120 High Street, continue on A5120 Houghton Road to the junction with A5 Watling Street. Turn right onto A5 Watling St and continue along the A5 to the roundabout with the A5 and A505 Chalk Hill.
A5 Road Closed alternative route northbound – At the roundabout of A5 and A505 Chalk Hill, take the exit onto the A505 towards Aylesbury, at the roundabout of the A505 and A4146 take the 2nd exit onto the A4146 towards Milton Keynes-Aylesbury, at the roundabout with A4146 and A4012 take the second exit and continue on the A4146 to the roundabout at A4146 and B488, take the 2nd exit and continue on the A4146 to the roundabout at A4146 and A418, take the 2nd exit and continue on the A4146 to the roundabout at A4146 and Leighton Road take the 2nd exit and continue on the A4146. At the roundabout with A4146 and Stoke Rd take the 1st exit and continue on the A4146 towards Milton Keynes. At the roundabout A4146 and Jersey Drive take the 3rd exit onto A4146 Stoke Road and continue towards Milton Keynes. At the roundabout A4146 and Stoke Rd take the 2nd exit and continue on A4146 to the roundabout with Gallery Lane, take the 2nd exit and continue on A4146 to Kelly’s Kitchen roundabout at A4146 and A5 and take the 4th exit onto the A5 and continue on the A5 south to the roundabout A5 and Woburn Road, take the 2nd exit and continue on the A5 south via Hockliffe to the junction with A5 and Dunstable Road.
A5 southbound alternative route is the above diversion route in the opposite direction.
Next week
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 and A505 between 09:30 and 15:30.
Sundon Road east will be closed overnight between 8pm and 6am on Monday 31 October and 01 November.
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 Bury St Edmunds: barrier repairs
We are repairing the crash barriers of the A14 as it passes through Risby, between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds. We will be working until Friday 4 November, between 8pm and 6am. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works, we will close the central lane of the A14 in both passing junction 41 (Risby) while we are working, and have a 40mph speed limit in place throughout the duration of the works.
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.
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. Lane or carriageway closures are currently planned for:
Monday 31 October
A14 westbound, junction 34 (Fen Ditton) to junction 32 (Histon). Overnight lane one closure.
Monday 31 October – Friday 4 November
Ermine Street, Godmanchester – two way traffic light closures (between 9.30am and 3.30pm).
High Street, Boxworth - two way traffic light closures (between 9.30am and 3.30pm).
Buckden Road, Brampton – two way traffic light closures (between 9.30am and 3.30pm).
Monday 31 October – Thursday 3 November
A1 southbound, junction 15 (Sawtry) to junction 14 (Huntingdon). Overnight closure of three lanes (nights).
A1 southbound, junction 14 (Huntingdon/Alconbury) to Brampton Hut. Full closure (nights).
A14 Cambridgeshire: 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 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 central 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 County 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.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
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Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.