Up to £28.5 million improvements for East roads
Drivers in the East will have benefitted from up to £28.5 million in road improvements by the end of March.
This is the value of work either beginning or already taking place on the Highways Agency’s regional network in the run up to the end of the financial year (April 2015), with completion dates varying depending on the length of each scheme.
The focus of the work has been to improve safety and increase the capacity of roads to help ease congestion and ensure better journey experiences across the East region’s busiest roads.
The organisation that looks after the country’s major roads is facing a transformative year in 2015.
By the end of March, in the East alone, the Highways Agency will have invested up to £52.4 million in roads renewal, £7.6 million in renewing structures, £2 million in technology and £28.5 million in improvement work.
Highways Agency East Regional Director, Catherine Brookes, said:
This is really good news for road users across the East because it will ultimately mean less congestion, more reliable journey times and improved safety. Vast amounts of money are being invested in roads – that inevitably means more roadworks, but for every scheme we work on there will be an improvement for drivers.
We are well aware of how frustrating roadworks can be to motorists – but I would like to reassure everyone that all our work is planned very carefully to cause as little disruption as possible. Some is inevitable – and we ask for drivers’ cooperation while the improvements are carried out.
Since April, works have begun on the pinch point projects on the A1 roundabout at Black Cat, A14 Histon to Girton, A1(M) at Welwyn and the A1/A47 Wansford.
Other works include:
- Resurfacing the A14 westbound between junction 31 and 26
- Average speed cameras have been installed on the A120 at Pellens Corner
- Resurfacing improvements have begun on the A421 Bedford southern bypass, with eastbound completed
- The A5 southbound at Milton Keynes has been resurfaced
- Bridge maintenance work has been completed on the A47
- Improvement work on the A1(M) at Sawtry was completed
- A138 Chelmer Viaduct replacement work has begun
- Improvement work on the A12 at Lowestoft and Ipswich
- Safety measures on the A12 in Suffolk and Essex
- Maintenance work on the A12 between Essex and Ipswich involving renewing the road surface and repairing drainage
- Barrier replacement work on the A14 at Huntingdon
- Safety improvements on the A47 at Walsoken and on the A120 at Houchins Lane.
Nationally, every day some four million vehicles use roads managed by the Highways Agency, that’s one third of all traffic; and around 80 per cent of all goods travel by road, with two thirds of large goods vehicles.
During any roadworks drivers are advised to plan their journeys and allow more for travel. Drivers can get up-to-the-minute travel information by phoning the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or by accessing the Agency’s website: www.highways.gov.uk/traffic
Drivers can also download the Highways Agency’s iPhone app or follow updates via Twitter at @HAnews_east
Further information regarding current and planned roadworks in the East plus neighbouring regions can be found on the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk/roads
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.