News releases and highways newsletters

First phase of improving sustainable transport in Harlow is now complete

The North to Centre route will make walking, cycling and catching the bus even easier

The first phase of work to develop new public transport, walking and cycling links in Harlow is now complete.

The Sustainable Transport Corridor runs from an upgraded junction at Burnt Mill, along the A1019 to the town centre.

It features new bus lanes, safer and more pleasant walking and cycling, new public spaces, trees, signs, and lighting.

The new and improved route is the first of a group of sustainable transport corridors that will link the centre of Harlow to the rest of the town.

Thousands of road repairs carried out in the last year as extra investment continues

Additional investment, dedicated crews, and creative innovation saw highways maintenance thrive during 2025/26

Additional investment in highway improvements has resulted in even more repairs being carried out in the last year. 

In 2025/26 Essex County Council committed to carrying out even more repairs and maintenance to keep highways, footways and structures safe.

The works delivered since April 2025, have included:

• 325 resurfacing schemes
• cleansing almost 153,000 gullies
• gritting more than 120,000 miles of road
• repairing more than 12,000 carriageway defects
• 9,300 repairs carried out through the Members Highways Initiative
• 48 schemes delivered via Local Highways Panels.

‘Electrifying Essex’ launches ahead of ambitious programme to install 5,000 electric vehicle charging points

Campaign prepares residents to switch to electric vehicles as installations begin this summer.

A new campaign called Electrifying Essex is highlighting the benefits of switching to an electric vehicle (EV) following an £8.3 million investment by Essex County Council.

The significant amount of funding will see 5,000 EV charging points installed in public spaces across the county by 2031.

It comes from the government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund following a successful bid by the county council. This marks the second largest LEVI allocation awarded to any council in the UK.

Installation of the EV charging points will begin this summer in on-street locations and public car parks throughout Essex.

Finchingfield Bridge - temporary closure for repairs

Following a vehicle strike to Finchingfield Bridge, engineers have inspected the structure and have planned necessary repairs to the damaged parapets. 

Funding for Phase Two of the Tendring-Colchester Borders Garden Community link road confirmed

The funding commitment will also unlock match funding from the developer

The Government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England, has confirmed it will invest £65 million to ensure completion of the A1331 link road in north Essex.

Phase One is currently under construction and the full road, once complete, will connect the A133 to the A120 and unlock the 7,750 homes being planned as part of the Tendring-Colchester Borders Garden Community (TCBGC).

Homes England’s investment will be match funded by a £21 million contribution by the Garden Community developer, Latimer, who has been closely working with Tendring, Colchester and Essex councils to submit a business case for the funding to the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Phase One of the new A1331 has seen the creation of a new roundabout on the A133, and just over one mile of dual carriageway, connecting two new roundabouts, which will provide accesses into the new community.

Phase Two will extend the route to a new junction on the A120, providing quick and easy access from the Garden Community.

Bakers Lane / Cottis Lane, Epping - Phase two progress update

We are continuing to push ahead with the phase two reconstruction works on Bakers Lane and Cottis Lane in Epping, with teams working hard to advance the scheme as quickly as possible.

Huge boost to winter road maintenance begins in Essex

Crews will be carrying out a huge programme of works this month and beyond

A major programme of road repairs is underway across Essex to fix damage caused by the cold and wet weather this winter.

This follows Essex County Council’s recent announcement of an extra £6 million in highways repairs and improvements.

This will be invested alongside the annual £102 million highways budget for 2026/27. This means more money is now being spent maintaining the county’s roads than ever before.

Extra crews and specialist vehicles will join existing teams already tackling the issues that matter most to residents.

Major city centre regeneration project underway

Transformation of St Botolph’s Circus to begin following appointment of contractor.

A major milestone in the ongoing regeneration of Colchester City Centre has been reached, with works on the £15.2 million redevelopment of St Botolph’s Circus set to begin.

Part of a successful government funding bid, the project will see the St Botolph’s Circus area transformed, making it safer, more accessible and creating a better environment for those travelling through it.

Jackson Civil Engineering has now been appointed to lead on building the scheme, one of the largest projects to take place in the city centre, following a detailed tender process. The decision is subject to a call-in period.

Works are expected to take about 18 months and are scheduled to be completed in Autumn 2027.

Progress update on A1331 Phase 1

Despite the recent poor weather, work has continued to progress on Phase One of the new A1331. While much of the work is currently taking place away from the A133, passers-by will have seen new landscaping taking place near to the new A133 roundabout.  Read full story

Construction set to start on Dovercourt regeneration schemes this spring

Public realm schemes part of a wider multi-million pound regeneration programme.

Work on two complementary schemes to improve Dovercourt town centre are set to get underway this spring.

The £2.39 million Dovercourt Public Realm Scheme involves a series of improvements between the seafront and Dovercourt Railway Station and has been developed by Essex County Council.

An additional £500k worth of enhancements will be brought to the area via the Dovercourt High Street Accelerator Green Spaces scheme, which is run by a forum of local partners and supported by Tendring District Council (TDC).

Both are part of the multimillion-pound Dovercourt Capital Regeneration Programme which includes the recent refurbishment of Harwich Library, a new car park in Milton Road and new council homes in Victoria Street.

The library reopened in October following a £1.16 million transformation. This included a new space for Adult Community Learning (ACL) and community events.

The Dovercourt Public Realm Scheme includes a series of paving, planting and improvements along the B1414 Kingsway. Read full story