Have your say on plans to widen A12 in Essex to three lanes
An eight-week consultation starts today (22 June)
People can now have their say on plans to widen the A12 in Essex to three lanes as an eight-week consultation begins today (22 June).
Highways England announced its preferred option for adding an extra lane to the 15 miles of the A12 between Chelmsford and Marks Tey in 2019 and 2020 as part of a billion-pound upgrade of the road.
It was based on factors such as environmental impact, journey times, complexity, affordability, and feedback from people and public authorities.
Proposed changes to this stretch of the A12 will include:
-Improvements to junctions 19 and 25
-Widening the dual carriageway from two to three lanes in each direction from Hatfield Peverel to Marks Tey
-Removal of existing junctions 20a, 20b and 23
-Construction of new junctions 21, 22 and 24 providing access to the A12 in both directions
-Creation of two bypasses, one between junctions 22 and 23 and another between junctions 24 and junction 25
-New and improved existing walking, cycling and horse-riding routes.
Stephen Elderkin, Project Director, said:
"The A12 is a key route connecting London and the Port of Felixstowe, and upgrading this section to three lanes will help with economic growth of the region and keep the county connected.
"The upgraded road will improve safety by connecting local roads via the new junctions rather than turning directly on to the A12, and increase capacity, making journey times shorter and more reliable.
"The existing A12 will be kept open for local traffic, and there will be new routes and crossings for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
"We have used feedback from consultations that we carried out in 2017 and 2019 to refine our plans.
"We know that there is a lot of support for these improvements, and we hope everyone with an interest in this scheme will take part in this next stage consultation to help refine our plans further and deliver the best possible road improvements.
"People can take part in numerous ways, and we’ll be hosting several events for them to come and talk with the team to share their thoughts and feedback.
"It’s important that we get it right for road users and the people who live along this vital road."
Once complete by the end of 2028, the improved A12 will reportedly reduce journey times by up to 12 minutes for the 90,000 drivers who use it daily.
Changes based on earlier feedback include moving the road further away from the Rivenhall Long Mortuary Enclosure scheduled monument, improving slip roads, upgrading junctions, and reducing local traffic by diverting through traffic onto the new road.
Work is set to start in 2023.
People can take part in the consultation, which runs until 16 August, online, by e-mailing A12chelmsfordA120wide@highwaysengland.co.uk , or by completing one of the forms available at the public events and collection points.
There will be six public exhibitions, subject to Government Covid-19 guidelines, at which people can have their say and speak with members of the team, as well as six webinars and an ongoing virtual exhibition.
Following the consultation, plans for the new road will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in Spring 2022.
Once a Development Consent Order is issued by late 2023, construction will begin.
There is more information about the plans here.