Roadworks set to end after nearly two years

Work to rebuild part of a major road will end after nearly two years, National Highways said.

Speaking exclusively to the BBC, the authority confirmed roadworks on the A12, between Marks Tey and Stanway in Essex, were "currently planned to complete by early September".

The work started on 17 October 2022 and was originally planned to finish in February of this year, but was delayed because of "unexpected challenges".

A Freedom of Information request made by the Daily Gazette earlier this year revealed the project was expected to cost £11m more than its £37m budget.

A contraflow system has been in place while the road's concrete carriageway was replaced with an asphalt surface.

Its completion will mark the end of a second major resurfacing project on the Essex stretch of the A12 this summer.

On Thursday, the Margaretting bypass reopened after 18 months of roadworks.

National Highways' head of scheme delivery, Simon Amor, told the BBC: "By the end of the September it will be really good news for the A12, really good news for Essex.

"Two of our big maintenance schemes will be finished and open for the road users."

Further work to widen the A12 between Chelmsford and Colchester has been delayed because of a "legal challenge", Mr Amor explained.

It was due to start by the end of this year and be completed between 2027 and 2028, costing up to £1.3bn.

Mr Amor said it was "very hard" to confirm when the work would start.

He added: "It's all subject to the legal challenge and whether or not it needs a judicial review but rest assured we are trying to take that scheme forward as quickly as we can."

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