News releases and highways newsletters

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.

Hercules Bridge – Strengthening works

Strengthening works are currently progressing to schedule on Hercules Bridge.

New safety measures planned for the A414

Speed restrictions and enforcement planned to improve road safety on the A414.

Essex County Council, with the support of Essex Police and the SERP, is set to implement new road safety measures on the A414 to help reduce fatal and serious collisions.

The measures include speed restrictions, signing and the introduction of average speed cameras along the road, which links Chelmsford and Harlow.

New restrictions will cover 14.5 miles of the road, from the Widford roundabout in Chelmsford to the existing 30mph speed limit east of the junction with the B181 at Tylers Green.

Langford Road, Heybridge Roundabout - roadworks update 

Developers have plans to carry out significant road realignment works on Langford Road, Heybridge from 23 July 2025.

Highways Highlights - June 2025

The June edition of Highways Highlights has now been published.

The newsletter for all things highway in Essex.

In this edition:

and more…

Windermere development - Hospital Approach/Court Road, Broomfield

Following traffic and congestion issues caused by developer works on Hospital Approach, Chelmsford, Essex County Council has cancelled the developer’s permit to work on the public highway and asked that their works be replanned.