News releases and highways newsletters

Planning application approved for “vitally important” junction improvements in Chelmsford

The £81 million Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package includes walking, cycling, bus and Park and Ride improvements to encourage safer, greener and healthier travel. 

Plans to transform a vital gateway in Chelmsford were approved today (Friday 22 November).

Essex County Council has developed the proposed Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package. It includes a hamburger roundabout (a new roundabout with a road through the centre of it) at the city’s Army and Navy junction.

Essex residents invited to share their views on proposed safer, greener, healthier cycling and walking routes

Residents are asked to feedback on new routes proposed across the county.

Essex County Council has launched a survey to hear the views of residents and businesses about connecting local cycling routes, which will create a new cycling network across the county.

Residents of Uttlesford are also being asked for their feedback on a number of cycling and walking routes in their area.

Both consultations, which began on Thursday 21 November, follow previous feedback given on routes in Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Rochford and Witham.

The council’s Sustainable Transport team now want to hear the views of residents about the remaining networks in Essex which will connect all the routes together as well as link up rural areas, such as:

Recently completed Priority One schemes and upcoming road surfacing works

Our recently announced £25million Priority One campaign is helping us get more crews out on the road to tackle the issues that matter. The investment being made will see up to 200 additional resurfacing schemes across the county, as well as works to tidy up vegetation, clear drains and improve signage.

In recent days, we were in Buckhurst Hill and Great Notley delivering schemes to tackle road issues that we know frustrate you. A selection of images from these works can be viewed below.

Essex County Council stresses commitment to second phase of A1331 link road with works underway on phase one

Works on the first phase of the new A1331 link road have begun, which will provide three new roundabouts as future access to the new garden community.

Councillor Lee Scott, Cabinet Member for Planning a Growing Economy, and Councillor Lesley Wagland, Deputy to the Leader at Essex County Council, joined other guests to take the first ceremonial spadefuls of earth to mark the start of main construction.

Funded as part of a £99 million package of investment by Homes England, which also includes the Colchester Rapid Transit System, phase one of the A1331 is the first piece of infrastructure to directly support the future delivery of the new Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community.

The 16-month project, which is being constructed by Octavius Infrastructure, will result in three new roundabouts as future access to the new garden community.

There will also be a 1.8km cycleway, provision for pedestrians and horse riders, and ecological measures including 47,000 plants. 

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Over 9,000 extra road repairs in Essex thanks to new initiative

Initiative enables each County Councillor to prioritise what matters most to their local residents.

Thousands of extra repairs to highways defects across Essex have been carried out following the launch of a new initiative.

The Members’ Highways Initiative enables Essex County Councillors to identify road and pavement issues which matter most to residents in their divisions.

This has included pothole and pavement repairs, kerbs installations, sign replacements and refreshing white carriageway lines.

Harlow Sustainable Transport Corridor - Meet the contractor

Residents can find out more about the roadworks taking place between the Town Centre and Burnt Mill roundabout in the Discover Harlow engagement hub on Thursday 21 November, 11.15am – 4pm.

Overnight closures for Northern Approach surfacing works

A series of overnight closures will come into force on the Mill Road/Northern Approach Road junction from the 19th November.

Part of the ongoing Rapid Transit System project, this will see full resurfacing works, road marking and installation of signals. The works will be taking place weeknights from the 19th November to the 6th December, with closures in place between 8pm and 6am.

Highways winter service begins with 25 gritters needing names

The gritters join Dermot Snow Cleary and Spreddie Mercury in Essex’s winter fleet.

A naming competition has been launched for 25 gritting vehicles in time for Essex Highways’ winter service.

The gritters will be based at Springfield depot and the new Dunmow depot to help keep Essex roads free of ice as the days get colder.

They join 34 other gritters named by Essex residents in previous years, including Dermot Snow Cleary, Volder Grit, Gritty McGrit Face, PLOWIE and Spreddie Mercury.

Overnight lane closure on Clingoe Hill - Colchester Rapid Transit System

The Clingoe Hill RTS scheme is progressing well and remains on schedule.

Over the coming days work will be undertaken to install new gullies and kerbing in the area leading up to the roundabout, and around the Boundary Road Junction.

To undertake this work safely and efficiently,  the team need to close the contraflow lane (from east to west), so reducing traffic down to one lane.

To minimise disruption, these works will be undertaken overnight between 8pm and 4am for four nights from the 11th -14th November. The contraflow will be reinstated during the busier daytime period.

During the overnight works on the 11th and 12th November,  the Boundary Road Slip Road will be shut upon entrance, and for the 13th and 14th November, the Boundary Road exit will be closed.

The team have been liaising with the university to facility alternative access arrangements if required.

Recently completed Priority One schemes and upcoming road surfacing works

Our recently announced £25million Priority One campaign is helping us get more crews out on the road to tackle the issues that matter. The investment being made will see up to 200 additional resurfacing schemes across the county, as well as works to tidy up vegetation, clear drains and improve signage.

In recent days, we were in Abridge, South Benfleet, Pitsea and Waltham Abbey delivering schemes to tackle road issues that we know frustrate you. A selection of images from these works can be viewed below.