Bypass and station plans to be launched following investment boost

Plans for a Chelmsford North East Bypass and Beaulieu Station are to be launched to the public this month in a specially created ‘virtual village hall’ event, following the award of £218m of Government funding for the schemes.

South East Local Enterprise Partnership Chairman, Chris Brodie said: “The station and north east bypass have been long talked about for Chelmsford and the need for the investment is clear, these investments will reduce congestion in the town centre and relieve pressure at the station, one of the busiest commuter stations in the country.

“It will also make a clear difference for the wider area and improve connectivity and journey times for other regional road routes.

“It is really important that the public and businesses across the wider area are able to access information on the plans, and for them to understand the improvements that can be made here and to have their say.”

The new 8km bypass, running between the A131 close to Great Leighs and the A12 at Boreham, will remove traffic from the B1008 in Broomfield village, Essex Regiment Way and rural routes to the east and west, while also supporting the ongoing development of Beaulieu. The provision of the bypass will also support and encourage sustainable transport options along these routes.

Chelmsford Station, meanwhile, is the busiest two-platform station outside London with 8.5 million passenger trips per year. Creating a new three-platform station at Beaulieu will help ease pressure on the station. Through reducing the need to travel into Chelmsford City Centre, there will also be up to 900 vehicles taken out of the city centre each morning peak, improving capacity on the road network.

More details on the two schemes will be launched on Monday 13 July through a specially created ‘virtual village hall’ - a web-based exhibition created specifically for the scheme which will run until Friday 21 August 2020. Here, you will also be able to access a film which provides more information and a ‘fly-through’ of the schemes.

For further information and to access the virtual event, visit www.essex.gov.uk/chelmsford-north-east-bypass. For enquiries, email cneb@essexhighways.org.