News releases and highways newsletters

As well as being shown below, our regular newsletter Highways Highlights also have their own page.

15 March 2024 Press Release

Initial surveys to begin on new A1331 ahead of main works

New road will support creation of the new Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community.

Surveys are underway to develop the design of the new A1331 in Colchester, ahead of construction starting this summer.

Octavius Infrastructure will undertake detailed design work for the first phase of the new A120-A133 Link Road, the A1331. Essex County Council has appointed the firm following a tender process.

The project will see the creation of a 1.8km dual carriageway road with three junctions. It will run between the A133 and a new ‘Allen’s Farm Roundabout’.

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12 March 2024 Press Release

Multimillion-pound investment to boost travel links in Colchester gathers momentum

Residents and visitors are at the heart of investment to transform the city’s transport links, improve local connections and reduce journey times.

A £120 million package of major traffic improvements for Colchester has taken a huge step forward after Essex County Council and Colchester City Council formally joined forces.

Working as Team Colchester, the councils have entered into an agreement to advance the £11.8 million regeneration of St Botolph’s Circus – a key gateway into Colchester city centre.

This includes design, planning and the selection of a contractor to complete the works. 

Forming part of the City Centre Masterplan, a roadmap for the future development of Colchester, the proposals for St Botolph’s Circus will see the area regenerated. This will include new plaza areas and improved accessibility for pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists.

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11 March 2024 Latest News

Survey work underway on first phase of the new A120-A133 Link Road (the A1331)

Survey works are now underway to support the design of the first phase of the new A120-A133 Link Road (the A1331).

Running from the existing A133 to a new Allen’s Farm Roundabout the ‘A1331’ is the first element of infrastructure delivery to support the creation of new homes, as part of the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community.

To enable this work, Octavius Infrastructure will be undertaking preliminary investigations and surveys on the site at the A133 Colchester Road/Clacton Road CO7 7BA from Slough Lane in the west up to Tye Road in the east.

During these works, there will be an off-peak traffic management system in place, with alternating lane closures. The road will not be closed at any time. Read full story


6 March 2024 Latest News

Trial of online reporting for urgent carriageway issues

On 26 February 2024 Essex Highways started a trial allowing members of the public to report carriageway defects that they consider need urgent attention through the 'Tell us' tool online. These reports need to be accompanied by photos of the issue so an assessment can be carried out. These reports can only be submitted between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Previously all urgent issues needed to be submitted via phone call to the customer services teams. If a member of the public doesn’t have photos, if it is too dangerous to take photos, or if the issue is being reported outside of 8.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday, then the issues can continue to be reported by phone.

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29 February 2024 Press Release

Greener resurfacing options explored during visit to manufacturing plant

Essex County Council Members visit state-of-the-art road maintenance facility to see the cost effectiveness behind greener road surfacing manufacturing.

Highways bosses were given a first-hand look at greener and more cost-effective road maintenance solutions during a visit to a manufacturing plant.

Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport, Councillor Tom Cunningham, along with eight other County Councillors, joined council officers on a visit to Eurovia’s Thurrock base.

Eurovia’s plant was developed as a hub for manufacturing road surface treatment materials. These are being developed to deal with the increasing temperatures that road surfaces in the UK are now having to accommodate due to our changing climate.

During the visit, Essex County Council representatives were given a tour of the site and met senior leaders.

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28 February 2024 Press Release

Future approach to delivering highways service from April 2027 is approved by Cabinet

The new model will give more power to Essex County Council to ensure value for money for residents.

The preferred model for delivering a highways service from April 2027 has been approved by Essex County Council’s Cabinet.

The current highways service is delivered through an integrated partnership contract between the council and Ringway Jacobs (Essex Highways). This contract runs to the end of March 2027.

The preferred model approved by Cabinet – the mixed economy model – will build on the success of this.

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27 February 2024 Latest News

Finchingfield Bridge - planned daytime closures for repairs

Essex Highways will shortly be undertaking brickwork repairs to Finchingfield Bridge due to damage sustained from recent vehicle collisions.  This follows similar repairs that were carried out in October 2023 following a number of strikes earlier in the year.

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27 February 2024 Latest News

First phase of Chelmsford North East Bypass goes out to tender

Project will improve infrastructure to support planned growth to the north of Chelmsford.

Delivery of the first phase of a new north east bypass for Chelmsford has moved a step closer.

Essex County Council has gone out to tender for a contract to build the initial section of Chelmsford North East Bypass.

The bypass, together with the new railway station at Beaulieu Park, will provide important infrastructure to support planned housing and economic growth to the north of Chelmsford.

The first section of the bypass will connect with Beaulieu Parkway in the south, providing access to the A12 at Boreham Interchange via the recently opened Generals Lane Bridge.

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22 February 2024 Latest News

Spending plan revealed for £12 million Essex Highways boost

Enforcement, resurfacing and rural roads are just some of the areas benefitting from Essex Highways’ additional funds.

An extra £12 million allocated to Essex Highways will fund several priority areas for residents.

The funding boost was approved by Essex County Council at its recent Full Council meeting as part of the 2024/25 budget.

In addition to its normal yearly budget, the extra money will ensure Essex Highways continues delivering the council’s priority to enable safer, greener and healthier travel across the county.

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22 February 2024 Latest News

Advanced Vegetation Clearance works being undertaken for Harlow 9

Advanced vegetation clearance works are being undertaken this week between Elizabeth Way and Netteswell Orchard to remove overgrown vegetation along the scheme route ahead of the main works which is scheduled for April.

The advanced works are being undertaken now to avoid bird nesting season and mitigate delays to the main works programme.

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