News releases and highways newsletters

Temporary Timetable for P&R service

Due to a national driver shortage, there will be a reduced service on the Chelmsford Park and Ride from Monday 26 September 2021. This is to support other services in the commercial network.

Construction set to start on scheme to reduce people’s exposure to air pollution

Changes to a pedestrian and cycle route in Basildon will tackle local air quality issue.

Works are set to get underway next month on a scheme to reduce people’s exposure to air pollution in an area of Basildon. 

It comes after the Government directed Essex County Council and Basildon Borough Council to address an area of the A132 East Mayne which was identified as exceeding legal limits for nitrogen dioxide - a harmful gas caused by vehicle emissions.

Having considered a number of options, a scheme was developed which will move the existing shared pedestrian and cycle route on East Mayne to reduce people’s exposure to air pollution in the worst affected area.

North Hall Road – vegetation clearance

In anticipation of a Topo survey which could be carried out as early as next week, arrangements have been made for vegetation clearance to take place. We will be on site to clear vegetation adjacent to the watercourse on Thursday 21 October and Friday 22 October 2021.

We will provide a further update as soon as dates for the topo survey have been confirmed.

Planning application submitted for Chelmsford North East Bypass

Planning application for Chelmsford bypass part of £250m investment which includes new Beaulieu railway station.

A bypass scheme to support the development of a new railway station, homes and businesses in Chelmsford has moved a major step forward.

Essex County Council, working with Chelmsford City Council, has submitted a planning application for the Chelmsford North East bypass, part of a £250 million investment which also includes a new railway station at Beaulieu.

The bypass would see 4.6km of new road and a 1.2km dual carriageway along the existing A131 in North East Chelmsford. It would connect to the new Beaulieu Park Development in the south and Deres Bridge and Great Leighs in the north, ultimately providing a vital link between the A120 and the A12.

Essex set to build back bigger through major infrastructure funding

Major capital projects averaging £300m per annum included as part of the County Council’s Autumn Budget Statement

A new railway station for Chelmsford, along with new schools and roads are among infrastructure schemes averaging £300 million a year which will be initiated by the County Council over the next four years.

The announcement was made 12 October by Councillor Chris Whitbread, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Corporate Affairs as part of the Council’s first Autumn Budget Statement.

Cllr Whitbread said: “I am pleased to be presenting our Autumn Budget Statement and how this will facilitate the ambition and drive of the new vision.

Drivers: We want your views on cycling

The Safer Essex Roads Partnership are working with Anglia Ruskin University on a research project into cycle safety and how drivers interact with cyclists on the road. The current phase of this study is looking for drivers to take part in an online survey. The survey asks drivers for their opinions of video clips showing motor vehicles overtaking cyclists. The survey is open to all UK drivers, including those who also cycle themselves as well as those who do not.

If you take part you will be asked questions about how you use the road and how you respond to certain types of situation on the road. It will also include a series of video clips depicting interactions between drivers and cyclists. You will be asked some questions about each clip to gauge your opinion of what you saw.

Highways Highlights - September 2021

The September 2021 edition of Highways Highlights has now been published.

The newsletter for all things highway in Essex.

In the September 2021 edition:

• ‘Make safe’ repairs: not pretty, but necessary?

• Better presented pothole repairs

• Vision zero – working towards no people killed or seriously injured on Essex roads

and more...

Hoe Mill Bridge – recent progress

Ground investigations previously planned for September 2021 were postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, however we are pleased to confirm that signage replacement and white lining works went ahead as planned. 

Body worn cameras to be trialled at several school crossing patrol sites in Essex

Staff at busy sites in Clacton-on-Sea and Basildon to take part in new four-week trial of body worn cameras.

Trials of body worn cameras are to take place at two separate crossing patrol sites in Clacton-on-Sea and Basildon.

For a period of 4 weeks from Monday 4th October, School Crossing Patrol Officers at sites in Cloes Lane, Clacton-on-Sea and Whitmore Way, Basildon, will wear body cameras whilst on duty.

The crossings are on busy through roads which serve several nearby schools. This is the first time these School Crossing Patrol Officers have worn a body camera.

New ECC Strategy aims to make walking the number one active travel choice in Essex

Strategy published today to encourages Essex residents to cut out short car trips and walk instead.

Walking should be the natural, everyday choice, whether for shorter trips or as part of longer journeys according to the Essex Walking Strategy published today, 29th September 2021.

Short car trips are on the increase resulting in poorer air quality, more congestion, and a more sedentary population. County residents might assume that driving is always the most convenient choice, but studies have shown, it often isn’t.