News releases and highways newsletters

Langford Road, Heybridge - Reopening as planned on 1 September 2025

Developers working on Langford Road in Heybridge will reopen the road as planned on 1 September 2025.

Cadent Gas utility works update - St Botolph's Circus

Ahead of starting the regeneration of St Botolph’s Circus, advanced works are needed to help make sure that critical utilities will not be impacted by the works when they get underway.

Over the coming week (Sep 1st) Cadent Gas will be undertaking further survey work / trial holes on the gas mains located on St Botolph’s Roundabout and the adjacent highway. Due to the nature of these works some traffic management will be required on site.

Road Closure: Sainsbury’s Roundabout, Fifth Avenue – Zelenskyy Avenue A1019 and Hammarskjold Road

On behalf of Essex County Council, Bouygues UK Ltd are undertaking essential works on the Sainsbury’s Roundabout as part of the Harlow Sustainable Transport Corridor project.

As a result of these works, a nighttime road closure will take place on Sainsbury’s Roundabout from 9pm on Sunday 31st of August until 5am on Monday 1st of September 2025. To facilitate this closure, the following roads will also be closed during this period ... Read full story

Voi announced as new e-scooter trial operator in Essex

1,200 vehicles to be deployed across Chelmsford, Colchester and Braintree.

E-scooters will once again be available for hire in Essex starting this week, with Essex County Council announcing Voi as the new operator of the trial. 

The roll-out will begin in Chelmsford on Wednesday 27 August and will continue in Colchester and Braintree at dates to be confirmed soon. 

Voi has extensive experience across the UK and Europe and its offer includes advanced fleet management, responsive customer service and a strong emphasis on safety and compliance.

Cadent Gas Utility Works - St Botolph's Circus

Ahead of starting the regeneration of St Botolph’s Circus, advanced works are needed to help make sure that utilities are moved away from the works area.

This week Cadent Gas will be undertaking survey work and digging trial holes ahead of working through September/October to divert the mains, so ensuring that there are no issues when the main works get underway next year.

To enable the cadent team to undertake this work safely, a lane closure will be in place this week while the trial hole work is undertaken.

Further details will be provided on the work taking place through September/October once confirmed.

Road Closure: Fifth Avenue – Zelenskyy Avenue A1019

On behalf of Essex County Council, Bouygues UK Ltd are undertaking essential works on Fifth Avenue – Zelenskyy Avenue A1019 as part of the Harlow Sustainable Transport Corridor project.

As a result of these works, nighttime road closures will take place on Fifth Avenue – Zelenskyy Avenue A1019 in both directions between the Burnt Mill Roundabout and the Sainsbury’s

Roundabout. These closures will take place on three nights, at the following dates and times ...

Council meets business leaders to discuss cancellation of A12 widening

Businesses raise concerns over cancellation of long-planned proposal to widen road between Junctions 19 and 25.

Essex County Council has met with concerned business leaders to discuss the Government’s decision to cancel the long-awaited A12 widening scheme.

The meeting was organised by Councillor Louise McKinlay, Essex County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity.

Plans to improve the road secured planning consent in early 2024 and would have seen the road expanded to three-lanes between Junctions 19 and 25. However, on 8 July, the Government announced the scheme would no longer go ahead.

A1331 Phase 1 / Rapid Transit Scheme – weekday night closures 6th – 22nd August

Works on the Clingoe Hill section of the Colchester Rapid Transit System and Phase One of the new A1331 Link Road remain on schedule.

In order to complete essential barrier installation and surfacing works on the A133 and at the new A1331 roundabout, a series of weekday night closures will be place between the 6th and 22nd August. The two sets of works are being undertaken together to minimise future disruption:

Diversions will be in place to re-route traffic via the A120. The road will be closed from 8pm and will follow the below schedule:

A Better Connected Essex – Have your say on new Essex transport strategy

Residents and businesses are invited to have your say on the new Essex transport strategy

Residents, businesses and visitors are being invited to help shape the future of transport in the county, following the launch of a consultation on the new Essex transport strategy.

The strategy, ‘A Better Connected Essex’, will help guide transport in Essex over the coming years, setting out how transport will support local people and businesses.

The second consultation on the new transport strategy, or Local Transport Plan, will build on public feedback that saw support for the proposed key themes and outcomes. The latest consultation covers the full draft strategy and a series of 13 area implementation plans.

Sharp drop in pothole reports following major investment in Essex roads

Essex sees the lowest level of pothole reports for three years.

Pothole reports in Essex have fallen drastically following major investment in the county’s road network.

759 pothole reports were made through the Tell Us webpage in June 2025, the lowest number since 2022.

This follows a continuous reduction from 1,637 in January 2025, 4,049 in January 2024 and 5,033 in January 2023.

The trend follows the £25 million Priority One programme launched by Essex County Council in August 2024 to target issues specifically reported by residents in every district, city and borough.