National Highways is expressing their gratitude to drivers for their patience as the extensive reconstruction of the A12 road nears completion. The temporary traffic barriers, cones, and speed limit reductions that have been in place between Junction 25 Marks Tey and Junction 26 Stanway have now been removed, allowing all lanes to operate at the national speed limit once again.
Although the major reconstruction work on the A12 is finished, there are still some final bits of work that need to be completed. The roadworks, which began on October 17, 2022, have caused significant disruptions for motorists over the past two years. The aim of the project was to improve the safety of the A12 between Junction 25 and Junction 26, create a smoother and quieter surface, and extend the life of the road.
Throughout the duration of the roadworks, there have been numerous late-night closures and delays, with the completion date being pushed back from September to mid-October. Despite these challenges, National Highways is grateful for the patience shown by drivers during this time.
A spokesperson for National Highways stated, “We would like to thank drivers for their patience following a significant period of speed restrictions during these works to upgrade this section of the A12. The road is now back in operation at the national speed limit, and we would like to remind motorists to drive carefully and allow themselves and others time to readjust.”
The completion of the project involved the removal of the old concrete surface and the upgrade to a smoother and quieter asphalt finish. Temporary barriers and cones have been removed, but some remedial work is still necessary. Additional overnight lane closures will be taking place in the coming weeks for final checks, including the removal of cameras and equipment, weather and progress permitting.
National Highways has shared that they have recycled 48,000 tonnes of old concrete road during this project, which is equivalent to covering the runway at Stansted Airport nearly five times over. Additionally, 60,000 tonnes of asphalt have been laid, 66,000 tonnes of soil have been removed, and 26,000 meters of new white lines have been applied as part of the reconstruction efforts.