A133 Colchester to Clacton route improvements

Works Location - Frating Roundabout

 

Works Location - Weeley Roundabout

Photos

Frating Roundabout 

Weeley Roundabout 

Scheme Plans

 

 

About the scheme

The A133 is the key route providing access from Colchester to the seaside resort of Clacton–on–Sea, and allows access from the district of Tendring into Colchester. 

Essex County Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership funded improvements to the A133 to support economic growth and provide safety improvements to the route.  They also hope to increase journey time reliability through highway capacity improvements for motorists and improved passenger transport facilities.

Improvements completed include:

• Frating Roundabout - Introducing a left-turn slip from A133 (A120 Spur) to A133 (east) and modifying roundabout and approaches to increase capacity.
• Weeley Roundabout - Widening northbound approach, road marking and signage improvements
• Safety Improvements - Local carriageway widening and junction improvements on A133 Colchester Road between Frating Roundabout and Weeley Roundabout to reduce congestion and address existing road safety issues.

Construction began at the end of November 2019.  Works were carried out on both Weeley Roundabout and Frating Roundabout simultaneously however Weeley Roundabout finished first in early April 2020.  Works on Frating Roundabout continued until Jacksons Civil Engineering demobilised the site compound in July 2020 when construction works were successfully completed.

Jackson Civil Engineering will revisit the site in the autumn to complete tree planting and landscaping works.

Councillor Kevin Bentley said: “This is good news for local people, businesses and commuters as these highway improvements will ease traffic flows and improve the safety along this busy route.”

“I would like to thank drivers for their patience shown throughout the roundabout improvements.  Wet and windy conditions were a hindrance to the programme earlier in the scheme, followed by the more recent challenges presented by the Covid-19 health emergency.  Fortunately the contractor was able to adjust their working practises to comply with government advice to successfully deliver these works in good time.

View the aerial footage of the completed works filmed by Essex County Council, Infrastructure Delivery Drone Services.