Essex A12 widening project faces legal challenge

About 90,000 vehicles use the section of the A12 on a daily basis

A £1.2bn upgrade to a dual carriageway could face delays after a legal challenge was submitted.

A proposal to widen a section of the A12 in Essex was given government approval in January.

It would see the road widened from two to three lanes in each direction between junction 19 (Boreham Interchange) and junction 25 (Marks Tey Interchange).

National Highways confirmed that a legal challenge had been submitted.

The challenge concerns the decision by the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, to give the project a development consent order earlier this year.

Chelmsford City Council and residents have also previously criticised the plans.

'Futureproof'

The proposed work would also see the removal of junctions 20a, 20b and 23, as well as the relocation of junctions 21, 22 and 24.

National Highways previously said projections showed motorists could shave as much as 1.5 hours in total off a five-day commute, if the widening scheme went ahead.

Philip Davie, National Highways project director for the scheme, said: "We stand by our plans and remain confident that our proposals to improve the A12 will increase safety, reduce congestion, and futureproof the road for economic growth in the East of England."We cannot confirm when we can start to deliver these vital improvements until the legal challenge is resolved."