Colchester Northern Approach Road closure for final surfacing works – January 20th – February 20th
From the 20th January to the 20th February (weekdays only) an overnight (8pm-6am) closure will be in place on Northern Approach Road.
This is to enable the completion of signal ducting works at the Mill Road junction and final surfacing along the length of Northern Approach Road including the junctions of Dickenson Road and Wallace Road. This will be followed by lining works and commissioning of the traffic signals.
Date: 20 January – 20 February (weekdays only)
Time: 8pm – 6am
The nature of this work requires an overnight road closure. The closure will initially affect the Northern Approach Road junctions with Mill Road and Dickenson Road. Access to the estate will be maintained through Wallace Road. Works will then move to the Wallace Road junction with access maintained via Dickenson Road. Access to Turner Road will be maintained during the closures.
A signed diversion route will be in place, part of which will include Nayland Road where the restriction for the bus gate will be temporarily suspended whilst the closure is in operation.
The out of hours team can be contacted on 07391 413204 if there are any issues during the times of the closure.
Rapid Transit System, Northern Approach Road final surfacing FAQ
What works will you be doing?
With the new rapid transit lane and cycleway installed there is a surface level difference where the existing carriageway at the junctions of Wallace and Dickenson join the A134 (Northern Approach Road) which needs to be raised. This will require surfacing into the junctions to introduce the gradual increase in the levels to meet the A134.
Why do you need to close the road for so many nights?
The contractor is limited to the amount of material they can lay each shift as it needs to cool before more can be applied and which needs to be ready for when the road is reopened for traffic in the morning.
What date will you move the closure to Wallace Road?
The road closure will start with the Dickenson Road junction on the night of January 20th and will then switch to the Wallace Road junction depending on the time needed to complete the first phase. We cannot advise on a specific date until the works are underway however updates as the surfacing progresses can be found on the RTS webpage.
Will the weather affect the surfacing works?
Laying the materials for road surfacing is not recommended during freezing temperatures as this can affect the quality of what is laid. If the weather forecast indicates low temperatures, then it is possible that the team may delay surfacing until the temperature rises again, so to not compromise the quality of the surface.
Will the works be noisy?
The nature of the works being undertaken means that a degree of noise will be unavoidable. Saw cutting and digging works will be completed before 11pm to minimise noise disruption to residents. Beyond 11pm the works will concentrate on surfacing with road rollers manoeuvring to compact the new surface and lorries attending site throughout the night to deliver materials. We are mindful of the proximity to residential properties and will keep noise to a minimum.
What is traffic signal commissioning?
Traffic signal commissioning is the process of ensuring that newly installed signals are working correctly. This will involve a series of tests of the sensors and the phasing of the lights and can take a number of days to confirm that signals are operating as intended.
When will the traffic management on Northern Approach Road be removed?
The resurfacing marks the end of the works which are disruptive to traffic and as such once this is completed then the vast majority of traffic management can be removed.