News releases and highways newsletters

Enjoy thousands of miles of Public Rights of Way across Essex’s countryside this spring

Landowners urged to keep footpaths, byways and bridleways clear and accessible.

With the weather warming up, it’s the ideal time to explore the wonderful Essex countryside.

And this spring, Essex Highways is encouraging residents to explore the county’s many Public Right of Way (PRoW) routes using its interactive online map.

PRoWs are routes that provide safer, greener and healthier access to the countryside for walkers, cyclists and equestrians.

Partial Footway closure - Northern Approach Road Colchester

As part of the next phase of works for the construction of the Colchester Rapid Transit System on Northern Approach Road, it is necessary to close the section of footway north of Mill Road, as highlighted on the map provided. This is to allow essential drainage works to be carried out. 

Pedestrians approaching Northern Approach Road from the Wildeve Avenue direction are encouraged to use the signalised crossing on Via Urbis Romanae, circled in red on the map.  

Please click below to view the footway closure map.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Essex Highways calling on landowners to keep on top of vegetation maintenance

Private trees, hedges, shrubs, and ditches need to be cleared and cut back before foliage grows.

Landowners with ditches and low-hanging trees near roads are being urged to ensure these are cleared and cut back this spring.

Carrying out this work before vegetation starts growing rapidly helps keep roads and paths clear, making them easier to use for residents.

Landowners are responsible for maintaining foliage on their land, even if it is close to a road or pavement. They have a duty of care to take reasonable steps to prevent risk.

Step into spring with annual safer, greener, healthier walking challenge

Residents can win prizes by walking 35,000 steps a week, or 5,000 steps a day.

The third annual Safer, Greener, Healthier walking challenge launches on Monday (1 April).

The Step into Spring challenge will run for six weeks to Sunday 12 May and is being run in collaboration with the free wayfaring and walking app, Go Jauntly.

Many Essex residents have already signed up to walk 35,000 steps a week, or 5,000 steps a day. The challenge is open throughout the six-week period for registration.

Cowdray Bridge – trial hole investigations complete

We recently carried out trial hole investigations at Cowdray Bridge to determine its current condition and locate utility services within the vicinity of the bridge.

Fully electric, zero-emission buses coming to Essex

Government investment to unlock electric buses coming to Basildon.

More than £30 million is to be invested in safer, greener and healthier travel in Basildon.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed the town will be one of a number of areas across the south-east of England to receive funding for electric buses.

Essex County Council and First Bus were successful in securing £4.8 million from the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) 2 scheme. This will fund 55 electric buses in Basildon.

Works to start on new Sustainable Transport Corridor for Harlow

Project will provide upgraded rapid bus services and sustainable transport links in town.

Work is set to get underway this month on new transport infrastructure to support the planned Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT).

Construction on the transformational new Sustainable Transport Corridor is set to formally start following the appointment of Bouygues UK Ltd as lead contractor.

Running from a redesigned junction at Burnt Mill along the A1019 to the town centre, the corridor will provide upgraded rapid bus services. It also includes walking and cycling links, new public realm, trees, signage and lighting.

Dovercourt Public Realm Scheme - Overnight site investigation surveys

A series of drainage surveys and trial holes will be carried out along Kingsway and the section of High Street between Holly Close and Station Road in Dovercourt throughout April and May 2024.

The surveys will start on Sunday 7 April 2024 and are needed to give us a better understanding of existing site conditions to help inform the next stages of our design work for the Dovercourt Public Realm Scheme.

All surveys will take place overnight, Sunday to Thursday, between 7pm and 6.30am to limit disruption. For Thursday night works, all traffic management will be cleared by 5am on Friday mornings to avoid interference with the weekly market. No surveys will take place overnight on Fridays or Saturdays.

Innovative pavement technique which helps the visually impaired being trialled in Essex

Demonstration shows just how cost-effective, efficient to install, and better for the environment the new method can be.

A new method of paving which helps individuals with visual impairments to navigate pavements and roads is being trialled in Colchester.

TAC-GRID provides a textured, or tactile, guide to where pedestrians are required to cross a road. This helps those with visual impairments to cross safely by warning them of junctions, crossings, dangers or obstacles.

There is already paving in place across the county with raised surfaces, such as dots, bars or lozenges on pavements and at pedestrian crossings.

TAC-GRID is laid directly onto existing surfaces – adding a textured surface without the need to lay individual tiles.

Works on Cambridge Road in Harlow due to be complete in April

A road improvement scheme to support a key business area in Harlow is on track to be completed next month.

To provide improved, quicker access to the recently completed M11 J7a, a new entrance and exit on the A1184 Cambridge Road has been developed. This will provide additional access to and from the eastern end of the industrial estate.

Additional pedestrian facilities are also being provided, promoting safer, greener and healthier travel in the area.

Overnight road closures have been in place over the last week to undertake resurfacing works.

Following the completion of resurfacing, the next stage of works will see new traffic signals installed, landscaping completed, and then demobilisation from the site. 

During this period two-way lights will be required to keep everybody safe. These will be removed as soon as practically possible.