A12 to be shut this weekend due to resurfacing work
Parts of the A12 in Essex will be closed once again this weekend – with National Highways issuing a warning for motorists. Work is continuing on the multi-million-pound project to improve the carriageway of the A12 between Chelmsford and Ingatestone.
The closure starts at 8pm this Friday (April 14) and will run on the southbound side between junction 16 (Stock Road Interchange) and junction 13 (Trueloves Interchange). It will remain in place until 6am next Monday (April 17).
This is to allow for the drainage system to be completely overhauled and forms part of a £65 million pound investment to remove and replace the old concrete surface of the A12 Margaretting Bypass and futureproof the road for decades to come, National Highways said.
The northbound carriageway will remain open during these periods. In total, six weekend closures will be necessary across the duration of the project which is due to be completed by summer next year.
Nisar Ahmad, National Highways Project Manager, said: “We are sorry for the inconvenience this weekend work will cause but we are doing everything we can to minimize disruption at the busiest times – that is why we are working at weekends and overnight. To keep traffic moving in both directions and limit the need for any further closures, we are also installing a contraflow system later this year.”
The upgrade to this part of the A12, which runs between junction 15 (Webbs Farms Interchange) and junction 13 (Trueloves Interchange), is part of a nationwide drive from National Highways to replace or repair aging concrete roads across the country.
Decades of use and hundreds of millions of journeys have left the A12 in need of “vital” upgrades, which will improve safety, create a smoother surface and reduce road noise.
National Highways will completely remove the concrete surface down to the foundations, before rebuilding the road with recycled material and a new smooth asphalt surface. Improvements will also be made to the drainage system, safety barriers, road markings and road studs – commonly known as ‘cat’s eyes’.
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The diversion route will take southbound traffic from the A12 at junction 17 (Howe Green Interchange) to travel south on the A130 before turning west and joining the A127 until it meets the A12 at the Gallows Corner junction in Romford. Local diversions will remain in place for those living and working in the immediate area.
Nisar Ahmad added: “Rat running is a dangerous practice – both for road users and those living locally. We agree diversions with the local authority to make sure larger vehicles and higher volumes of traffic are placed onto the most appropriate roads.
“The type of smaller roads which people use for rat running often have upper weight limits and lower speed limits. They may also have properties with concealed entrances meaning they can be dangerous for high speed traffic or heavy goods vehicles.
“Apart from being dangerous, rat running is often counter-productive as the roads are not suited to additional traffic so they frequently take longer to travel through than the designated diversion. To address the issue we have put a variety of deterrents in place. These include additional signage and the use of speed camera detector vans. For everyone’s safety, please stick to the official diversions.”
Continuing the work to improve the A12 Margaretting Bypass, a closure of the northbound carriageway between J13 and J16 will be in place overnight between 8pm and 6am next week from Monday to Friday. The diversion route will follow the A127 from Gallows Corner, Romford and will rejoin the A12 at J17 (Howe Green Interchange) via the A130.
To find out more about National Highways plans to upgrade the A12 Margaretting Bypass, click here[3].
References
- ^ Traffic and travel news from across Essex (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ click here (www.essexlive.news)
- ^ click here (nationalhighways.co.uk)