A12 in Essex to close for weekend work

The concrete surface of the A12, between Brentwood and Chelmsford, is being removed and replaced with a smooth asphalt

A 25-mile diversion will be in place this weekend as five miles of the northbound A12 in Essex is closed.

The closure, from junction 12 at Mountnessing to junction 15 at Margaretting, is from 20:00 BST on Friday, 12 May until 06:00 on Monday.

National Highways said it was part of ongoing work to improve the carriageway and will allow for the drainage system to be overhauled.

It advised motorists to allow extra time for their journeys.

The diversion route is from the Gallows Corner junction in Romford via the A127 and the A130 up to the A12 at junction 17, the Howe Green Interchange.

There could be congestion backing up to the M25, the agency said, but the southbound carriageway would remain open.

The work is part of a £65m investment to improve the A12 Margaretting Bypass, which runs between the junction 15 Webbs Farms Interchange and the junction 13 Trueloves Interchange.

The concrete surface down to the foundations is being removed and rebuilt with recycled material and a new smooth asphalt surface.

It will be the third of six planned weekend closures during the project, which is due to be completed by summer 2024.

'Minimise disruption'

Project manager Nisar Ahmad apologised for the inconvenience and said the agency was doing everything it could to keep disruption to a minimum.

"Unfortunately, with a project of this scale - and irrespective of how much we try to minimise disruption - there will be a degree of congestion this weekend," he said.

"We have all been stuck in traffic and there is clearly no joy in it, so please plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey.

"The completion of these works will bring the road up to modern standards and that means safer journeys and far less maintenance and disruption in the future."