Chelmsford bridge opens to try to ease congestion

Road closures were in place ahead of the opening of the new bridge

A new £14m bridge aiming to ease congestion has opened in Essex.

The bridge links the new Beaulieu Estate in Chelmsford with the A12 and stretches 161m (528ft).

Construction started 18 months ago and scores of cars were using the new bridge when it opened at 6:00 GMT.

It also provides access to the planned new Beaulieu railway station which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.

Vicky Ford, Conservative MP for Chelmsford, said: "Chelmsford is a growing city and deserves infrastructure that matches our needs.

"The opening of the new Beaulieu Parkway Bridge is a vital piece of infrastructure which will deliver immediate as well as long-term benefits for the people of Chelmsford.

"A huge amount of complex work has gone into the construction of this bridge and will alleviate congestion in the north of Chelmsford.

New £14m bridge at Boreham junction of the A12 has opened

"This has all been made possible thanks to the £250m housing infrastructure grant from the government, the largest such grant in the country."

Martin Leach, managing director of major projects at Countryside, which delivered the project, said: "The completion of the bridge is a fantastic moment for Chelmsford, facilitating the opening of the new relief road which provides a much more convenient link between the A12 and the A130.

"This will significantly reduce congestion from local roads in Springfield as well as provide easy access to the new Beaulieu Park station."