Planned roadworks in the East of England: weekly summary for Monday 9 - Sunday 15 March 2014
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.
A5 High Street, Dunstable: traffic signal upgrade works
Work to replace the current traffic signals with new LED signals on the A5 High Street at the junction with Brewers Hill Road and Houghton Road in Dunstable will take place during the day for two days from 7 March. The work will be carried out between 9.30am and 4.30pm and is planned for completion by 8 March. During the work there will be lane closures at the junction controlled by temporary traffic signals.
A14, Bury St Edmunds – Felixstowe: sign replacement works
Work to replace 14 signs along the A14 between Bury St Edmunds and Felixstowe will take place overnight for 15 nights from 9 March. The work will be carried out between 9pm and 6am on weeknights only and is planned for completion by 27 March. During the works there will be a lane closure in both directions on the A14 at various locations between junction 44 (Bury St Edmunds East) and A154 Felixstowe.
A14 junction 55, Copdock, Ipswich: sign installation works
Work to install a new “Park and Ride” sign on the A14 at junction 55 (Copdock Interchange) eastbound near Ipswich will take place overnight for three nights from 9 March. The work will take place between 9pm and 6am and is planned for completion by 11 March. During the work there will be an eastbound lane closure past the works.
A14 Huntingdon: sign replacement works
Work to replace the current variable messaging signs (VMS) on the A14 between junctions 20 and 21 and between junctions 23 and 24 near Huntingdon will take place overnight for four nights from 7 March. The work will take place between 10pm and 5am and is planned for completion by 10 March. During the works the eastbound A14 will be closed overnight on 7 and 8 March between junctions 20 (Ellington) and 21 (Brampton Hut). The westbound A14 will be closed overnight on 9 and 10 March between junctions 24 (Godmanchester) and 23 (Spittals). A diversion route will be clearly signposted during the works.
Where the eastbound carriageway is closed road users will be directed to travel back along the A14 westbound to junction 13, onto the A605, A1139, A1260, A15 and B1043 southbound to re-join the A1 at Alconbury and A14 at Brampton Hut interchange.
Eastbound traffic will be advised of the closure from junction 13 onwards.
Where the westbound carriageway is closed road users will be directed to travel back along the A14 eastbound to junction 32 and join the A428. Traffic will re-join the northbound A1 and return to A14 at Brampton Hut interchange. Traffic will also be diverted from the northbound M11 at junction 13 onto the A1303 and A428. Westbound traffic will be advised of the closure from junction 32 onwards and on the M11.
Ongoing work
A1(M) junction 6, Welwyn: Pinchpoint junction improvement works
Work to improve the northbound entry slip road on the A1(M) at junction 6 Welwyn is taking place overnight from 2 March. These works are part of the Government’s £317m pinch point programme, which aims to boost local economies by reducing congestion and delays at key locations. The work is being carried out between 10pm and 5pm and is planned for completion by the end of May. During the works there will be a full closure of the A1(M) northbound between junctions 4 and 6. A diversion will be clearly signposted direction road users to travel via the A6129, B197 and the A1000 to rejoin the A1(M) at junction 6.
A1/A47 Wansford, Peterborough: Pinchpoint junction improvement works
We are making improvements to the junction where the A1 meets the A47 at Wansford near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, by installing traffic signals on the existing roundabout and widening local approach roads. These works are part of the Government’s £317m pinch point programme, which aims to boost local economies by reducing congestion and delays at key locations. We started the works on Thursday 15 January and have scheduled them to finish by the end of March. We are working between 8pm and 6am from Monday to Sunday.
During the week starting Monday 9 March there will be lane closures controlled by temporary traffic signals. View the scheme website for A1/A47 Wansford, Peterborough
A1, Black Cat roundabout, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire: Improvements
A scheme to ease congestion and improve journey time and safety (part of the Government’s £317m pinchpoint programme, which aims to boost local economies by reducing congestion and delays at key locations) started in June 2014 and, subject to weather conditions, is scheduled to last for approximately eight months. It involves a new road alignment to enlarge and widen the existing roundabout, new safety fencing, improved drainage, new surfacing on the roundabout and installation of lighting columns and traffic lights. The work will normally take place between 7.30am and 5.30pm from Monday to Friday, with occasional night-time road and lane closures.
Narrow lanes are currently in place 24 hours a day in both directions and on the roundabout itself.
There will be full northbound closures from Monday 9 March to Friday 13 March from 9pm to 6am. In addition, there will be southbound lane closures throughout the week and lane closures on all approaches on Saturday 14 March.
During the closures, the A1 will be closed from Blunham to Wyboston with a diversion route leaving at Blunham along Barford Road and rejoining at Wyboston. The A421 will be closed from Cardington Junction with traffic being diverted down the A603 to Sandy roundabout, turning left for A1 North and picking up the northbound diversion.
During the road closures only, traffic will only be able to travel along Barford Road Northbound, and its weight restriction will be lifted.
A5-M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass), Bedfordshire: Major improvement
We are planning to build 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. The new road will reduce and improve the reliability of journey times for long distance traffic travelling around Dunstable, as well as cut congestion and promote economic growth.
Advanced works started on site in May 2014. Continuation of these works will require some road closures, which will be publicised in advance. These works are important as they will help stay on target for the planned start of the main construction work on 16 March 2015.
In addition, road users and local residents are invited to attend public exhibitions in Bedfordshire this week to find out more about the scheme. The exhibitions will be held at Chalton Village Hall, Water End Lane, Chalton, LU4 9UL, on Friday 13 March from 2pm to 8pm and at The Incuba, 1 Brewers Hill Road, Dunstable, LU6 1AA, on Saturday 14 March from 10am to 4pm. The Highways Agency project team will be on hand to answer questions and explain the scheme.
Work on the major improvement is due to complete in Spring 2017. For more information, visit the A5-M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass) scheme website.
A14 and A11 Newmarket: Embankment stabilisation works
Work is continuing to stabilise the embankment alongside the A14 at junction 38 and the A11 near Newmarket. The work is being carried out between 8pm and 6am and is planned for completion during April. During the work there are lane closures past the works.
A12 Kelvedon: Pinchpoint average speed camera installation works
We are installing average speed cameras on the A12 in both directions between J22 Coleman’s Interchange Witham and J24 Kelvedon north. These cameras will be used to enforce the 70mph speed limit and improve safety at this location. The works are part of a multi-million improvement programme designed to boost local economies, reduce congestion and improve safety on the strategic road network. The programme is part of the UK’s Government growth initiative, outlined during the chancellor’s Autumn Statement in November 2011. The programme provides smaller scale improvements that can deliver big returns by easing congestion and making journey times more reliable for road users, including hauliers and commuters to help boost local economies and drive economic growth.
Works started on 17 February, which are being carried out overnight between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am on weeknights only, with occasional weekend working, and are scheduled to last for 6 weeks. Work will continue from Monday 2 March using overnight lane closures.
For more information, visit A12 Kelvedon scheme website.
A12 J31-33, Suffolk: Improvement works
We are in the second phase of works to improve the road network on the A12 between junction 31 (Four Sisters Interchange) and junction 33 (Copdock Interchange). We are resurfacing the carriageway and renewing road markings, repairing barriers and drainage systems and improving lighting and embankments within these works. We are working each night between 9pm and 6am and weekends between 9pm and 8am the works are being carried out under contraflow running with a reduced speed limit. From Monday 9 March there will be overnight closures for two nights in each direction between 9pm and 5am a signed diversion route will be in place. The works should finish in May.
A12 J11-12, Brentwood, Essex: Improvement works
We are in the second phase of works to improve the road network on the A12 in both directions between junction 11 (for M25) and junction 12 (for A1023 Chelmsford Road). We are resurfacing the carriageway and renewing road markings, repairing barriers and drainage systems and improving lighting and embankments within these works. We are working each night between 10pm and 6am and the work is planned for completion by the end of March. During the week commencing 9 March there will be a full closure of the A12 northbound between junctions 11 and 12. A clearly signposted diversion route will direct road users to travel via the A1023 and B1002 to re-join the A12 at junction 13. Southbound traffic will continue to follow the A12 as normal but with the reduced speed limit.
A12 Hughes Corner, near Colchester, Essex: Pinchpoint average speed camera installation works
We are installing average speed cameras on the A12 in both directions at Hughes Corner, in Suffolk. These cameras will be used to enforce the 70mph speed limit and improve safety at this location. The works are part of a multi-million ‘Pinchpoint’ improvement programme designed to boost local economies, reduce congestion and improve safety on the strategic road network. The programme is part of the UK’s Government growth initiative, outlined during the chancellor’s Autumn Statement in November 2011. The programme provides smaller scale improvements that can deliver big returns by easing congestion and making journey times more reliable for road users, including hauliers and commuters to help boost local economies and drive economic growth. We started works on 8 February and have scheduled them to last for seven weeks. The works will be carried out overnight between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am on weeknights with occasional weekend working. Work will continue from Monday 2 March using overnight lane closures.
For more information, visit the A12 Hughes Corner scheme website
A14 Tostock, Suffolk: Bridge maintenance works
We are carrying out maintenance works on the bridge which carries the A14 over the Tostock Road near A14 junction 46, Tostock, Suffolk. Work started on Monday 26 January and we aim to complete the works in April. We are working between 8pm and 6am Monday to Sunday and we are using lane closures on the A14 with a temporary speed limit of 50mph in both directions past the works. We are also using a lane closure with temporary traffic lights on Tostock Road past the works.
A14 Girton to Histon (junctions 31 to 32): Lane gain scheme On 14 April 2014 work started to improve slip roads onto the M11 and A14 and to add an additional lane on the A14 in each direction between Girton and Histon. This work, which is part of the Government’s Pinchpoint Programme, is scheduled to take place mainly during the day, with existing lanes narrowed and a 50mph speed limit imposed. Between Monday 9 March 2015 and Friday 13 March, there will be a full closure each evening of both the eastbound carriageway between junctions 31-32 and the westbound carriageway between junctions 36-32. Closures will be effective between 8pm and 6am. Local diversions will be clearly signposted. For details of the scheme, visit the Highways Agency website at http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/A14-Junction-31-to-32-Eastbound-and-Westbound-Improvements.
A14 Ipswich: Improvement works Improvement work started on Monday 9 February on the A14 in Ipswich between junction 49 (Stowupland) and junction 58 (Levington). The scheme which includes resurfacing, drainage renewal, replacing barriers, embankment work and removing defects in the road is due to be completed by Friday 20 March. Work to renew the drainage system and repair the central reserve barrier between junctions 55 and 58 is continuing under lane closures.
A14 Huntingdon: Barrier replacement works Work to replace sections of the central reservation barrier is being carried out on the A14 between the B660 and Spaldwick and between Brampton and Spittals near Huntingdon. Works started Monday 9 February and are due to finish by the end of March. We will be working between 8pm and 6am and will use lane 2 closures and a temporary speed limit of 40mph for safety reasons.
A47 Walsoken, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire: Junction improvements We are making improvements to the A47 Walsoken / Broad End Road junction by installing new warning signs and renewing road markings at the location. Work should be finished by the end of March. We will work between 8pm and 6am and will use temporary traffic signals to manage traffic.
A138 Chelmer Village Way, Chemsford, Essex: Chelmer Viaduct replacement The major improvement work on the Chelmer Viaduct in Chelmsford will take approximately 18 months to complete. Works to construct a southern access are due to commence on the night of Monday 2 March through to Thursday 5 March and again from Monday night through to Thursday night (9-12 March). These works will be carried out between 8.30pm and 6.00am and we will maintain one lane of traffic open in each direction, so anticipate there will be no impact upon traffic flows. For details of the scheme, visit the Highways Agency website at http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a138-chelmsford-replacement-of-chelmer-viaduct/
A421 Bedford Southern Bypass Westbound: Resurfacing works We are undertaking resurfacing works to the westbound carriageway of the A421 Bedford Southern Bypass. Works will involve renewal of the existing road surface. A 24-hour speed limit will be in place for safety reasons as working methods will require daytime traffic to run on temporary road surfaces throughout the duration of the scheme. Works started Monday 23 February and are scheduled to last for five weeks. Works will be undertaken between 8pm and 6am on weeknights. The road will be closed between its junction with the A4280 and its junction with the A6 at Elstow Traffic wishing to travel west will need to follow the clearly signed diversion route along the A4280, Newham Avenue, Longhome Way, A5140 returning to the A421 at the A6 junction at Elstow.
A421 Cardington Cross, Bedford: bridge repair works Works are continuing to repair bridge joints and stabilise the embankment on the A421 at Cardington Cross south of Bedford. We are working between 8pm and 6am on weeknights only and the works should be completed by the end of March. To keep road users at a safe distance from the works we will need to close the A421 westbound between A4280 Goldington Road and A6 Elstow. Road users will leave A421 at the Renhold Junction onto the A4280 Goldington Road, turn left at the traffic lights onto Newnham Avenue. At the roundabout take the second exit onto Longholme Way, to the next roundabout with the A600 (London Road), take the A5140 (Rope Walk), continue along the A6 (Ampthill Road) to the A421.
A421 Castle Mill viaduct, Bedford: Drainage repair works
We are repairing the drainage on the A421 Castle Mill viaduct south of Bedford and the works should be completed by 13 May. These works will be carried out alongside the A421 Bedford Southern Bypass resurfacing works and we will need to close the A421 westbound between A4280 Goldington Road and A6 Elstow. Road users will leave A421 at the Renhold Junction onto the A4280 Goldington Road, turn left at the traffic lights onto Newnham Avenue. At the roundabout take the second exit onto Longholme Way, to the next roundabout with the A600 (London Road), take the A5140 (Rope Walk), continue along the A6 (Ampthill Road) to the A421.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.