16 March 2023 Latest News

Improvements planned for Chelmsford’s Victoria Road this April

Essential maintenance on Victoria Road Bridge will take place next month, and will include pedestrian crossing, cycling and road improvements.

Works that will include improvements to cycling and pedestrian access and upgrading the existing toucan crossing will take place on Victoria Road, Chelmsford.

From 3 April to 19 April Victoria Road Bridge will be fully closed 24 hours a day while the essential works are carried out. Properties and businesses can be accessed from either side of the closure points via the diversion. The closure will be extended during a limited number of overnight closures required to support surfacing works.

Victoria Road Bridge will be re-waterproofed to add extra protection to the structure, parts of which originate to 1924. This will include the removal and replacing of the existing waterproof membrane on the bridge, carrying out concrete repairs and installing a new surface layer.

To make full use of the road closure to carry out the works on the bridge, multiple improvements have been planned to take place at the same time. This includes upgrading the toucan crossing adjacent to the bridge with new equipment and a wider crossing, aiding cyclists and pedestrians. Taking this approach will limit future inconvenience at this busy city centre location.

The length of Victoria Road between the junction of Springfield Road and New Street will also be resurfaced in stages with the support of temporary overnight closures, to improve the road condition.

It is expected Victoria Road Bridge will be reopened after approximately two and half weeks, although this is subject to change as the bridge waterproofing and surfacing require dry conditions.

Additional improvements to the Riverside cycle path (between Victoria Road and Waterloo Lane) will continue throughout April as part of ECC’s Active Travel Fund works.

Cllr Lee Scott, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport, said: “As well as providing essential maintenance we are investing in walking and cycling improvements for this busy route in the city to provide the residents of Chelmsford with safer, greener, healthier transport options.

“This is a tight work programme with numerous activities planned within a relatively small working area. Teams are co-ordinating their efforts in a bid to keep the work duration and traffic restrictions to a minimum with access to businesses maintained, reducing the need to close this site on multiple occasions to carry out these improvements.”

More information about the works is available online.