News releases and highways newsletters

RTS Section A presentation

Thank you to everyone who joined our presentation of the Colchester Rapid Transit System Section A proposals.

Section A of the proposed route covers from the existing A12 Park & Ride Site to the Albert Roundabout. Within this section there is existing planning permission for a ‘segregated busway’ adjacent to the Northern Approach Road. Read full story

Hercules Bridge road closure planned to support investigation works

Plans are in place to carry out additional investigation works at Hercules Bridge from Monday 16 August to Friday 27 August 2021.  These works are necessary due to inconsistent findings in relation to the utility apparatus within the carriageway.  

During these dates it will be necessary to temporarily close Debden Road at the bridge 24 hours a day until the works are complete.

Major M11 milestone reached following successful bridge installation

The M11 in Essex now boasts a new bridge after crews worked night shifts for the past week to install a 500 tonne construction over the motorway as part of the ongoing Junction 7A scheme.

Work to create a vital new junction on the M11 has reached a major milestone this week, with the successful installation of a new bridge over the motorway.

A section of the motorway has been closed overnight over the last week while a 600-tonne crawler crane lifted the five 45m braced beams, each weighing up to 100 tonnes, into place as part of the ongoing M11 Junction 7A scheme.

Major investment to upgrade 82,000 streetlights to LEDs in Essex

Essex will make savings every year as the remaining non-LED streetlights are set to be upgraded.

Councillor Lee Scott, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport, said:

“Last year our repair crews attended nearly 38,000 streetlights to fix them, but we are still struggling to keep up. LED streetlights last longer, use less electricity and so provide a better service to us all while saving taxpayers' money. We have already installed around 45,000 LED streetlights on main roads and now I’m delighted to announce we are investing to replace the remaining 82,000 lights on residential streets.”

Boxted Bridge temporary closure to support investigations

From Monday 5th to 9th July 2021 coring investigations will be conducted at Boxted Bridge on Wick Road to establish the extent of the existing foundations of the abutments.  These findings will support any future plans for the bridge.

During this time it will be necessary to temporarily close Wick Road at Boxted Bridge 24 hours a day until the works are complete due to the restricted working area.  

No vehicles will be permitted to pass over the structure until the works are complete and the road is reopened. 

Signed diversions will be in place during the closure and nearby residential properties will remain accessible from either side of the structure. 

Vital bridge safety repairs to close one lane of Ipswich Road/Cowdray Avenue roundabout

Vital repairs to keep motorists, cyclists and pedestrians safe on a busy Colchester bridge will start on Monday 7th June.

Essex Highways are preparing to complete the Cowdray bridge repairs that were identified during the recent Ipswich Road/Harwich Road improvement scheme.

This work will involve closing one lane on the Ipswich road roundabout between Ipswich Road South and Cowdray Avenue. One lane will be open to traffic.

During recent work, engineers were strengthening the retaining wall to the south and west of the Ipswich Rd roundabout, when a crack was discovered in the base of one of the ornamental bridge columns, known as pilasters. These pilasters are instantly recognisable to all Colchester residents.

Hoppit Bridge deck replacement works postponed

Due to unforeseen circumstances the deck replacement works due to begin at Hoppit Bridge in Braintree have regrettably been postponed.
An update will be provided when we are in a position to reschedule the works, which we expect will be later this financial year.

Overnight Closures on the M11

A series of overnight motorway closures will begin next week to enable the installation of a new bridge as part of the M11 Junction 7A works.

The closures between Junction 7 (Harlow) and Junction 8 (Bishops Stortford and Stansted) will be in place between 9pm and 5am from Tuesday 1st June each evening for up to seven weekday nights.

Have your say on safer, greener, healthier travel in Essex

Ambitious plans to help turn Essex into a walking and cycling county are going on show to the public – and Essex County Council wants to know what you think.

Residents are being invited to give their views on safer, greener, healthier cycling and walking routes in five towns across the county with the launch of the Active Travel Essex consultation.

Working in partnership with city, borough and district councils as well as local community and accessibility groups, the county council is today publishing the plans which will see the reallocation of road space to make more room for everybody to walk and cycle safely. As more people take up walking and cycling and avoid using their cars for short trips, it will mean fewer vehicles on the road and ease congestion for those who have no alternative but to drive, making their journeys more reliable and efficient.

Oasis Bridge – progress update

UKPN have recently attended site to carry out the necessary utility diversions to their apparatus. The lane closure which was in place on Eastern Approach while these works were carried out has been removed.

The site compound has been established and a lane closure has been installed on B1137 Springfield Road on the north side for the next phase of works. In addition a closure has been installed on the north footpath and a designated diversion route is in place to ensure pedestrian access is maintained at all times.