A12 Margaretting Bypass (junctions 13 to 15) concrete road reconstruction
We are rebuilding the A12 Margaretting Bypass between junction 13 (Ingatestone) and junction 15 (Three Mile Hill), including removing and replacing the current concrete road surface. This will improve safety, create a smoother quieter journey and extend the life of the road to make it fit for the future.
Installing new drainage catch pits
Excavation before laying the new road surface
Carriageway under reconstruction
Preparing for the new road surface
Starting to resurface the carriageway
New research equipment rolled out to detect dangerous driving
New technology, capable of automatically detecting motorists who fail to wear a seatbelt or hold mobile phones at the wheel, is being trialled in the UK under plans to boost road safety.
New detection equipment will be placed within the roadworks of the A12 Margaretting Bypass scheme, as part of the research project to understand the scale of the problem around these dangerous motoring offences. As part of this work, drivers will be sent warning letters in partnership with the police force, informing them of the dangers of their actions.
More information about the trial can be found in our news story.
Project information
We will be reconstructing the A12 Margaretting Bypass (between junction 13 at Ingatestone and junction 15 at Three Mile Hill). Reconstruction will involve completely removing the concrete road surface and some of the foundations, before rebuilding the road and resurfacing it with asphalt.
The East region has the highest concentration of concrete roads on our road network, including the A14, A12, A120, A11 and M11.
Around half of the old-style concrete roads will either have repairs or will be replaced during the next five years.
We’re using innovative ways of working and new technology to provide a modern road that will last for decades to come. This will also make it easier and quicker for us to carry out repairs in the future.
Find out more about our nationwide Concrete Roads work.
Why we need the scheme
The surface of concrete roads that were designed between the 1950s and 1970s have an average life span of 50 years. Their surfaces are now reaching the stage where they will need to be repaired or replaced for safety reasons, and to help them be less noisy and better to drive on.
In late 2020, we made repairs to the A12 road surface between junction 22 and junction 24 in both directions. During early 2021, we resurfaced the A12 southbound main carriageway between junctions 27 to 26, and also repaired the road surface at the slip roads at junction 27. And in late 2021, we completed repairs to the A12 between junctions 15 and 19.
This video explains the process we go through to rebuild concrete roads:
There is more reconstruction, resurfacing and other maintenance work scheduled for 2023 on other stretches of this road.
Read about how we're rebuilding and replacing some of the old concrete road surface on the A12
Roadworks
We’re using a contraflow system during construction of the scheme.
A contraflow is when the road is shut in one direction and traffic is then moved over to drive on the other side of the road to share the remaining road space. This provides us with a clear working area, which means we can work more quickly and safely.
By using a contraflow, the A12 can have two lanes of traffic in each direction for most of the construction period. This will minimise the disruption to local communities and road users, limit the need for road closures and diversions, and allow the work to take place safely.
While the contraflow is in place, the carriageway will be reduced to two lanes both northbound and southbound. Full road closures are only be needed when we set up and take down our roadworks. The speed limit will be temporarily reduced for safety.
Diversion routes
It will be necessary at key points in our scheme to put in place some full road closures.
During full road closures, a fully signed diversion route will be in place for traffic wishing to travel on the A12 between junctions 13 and 16.
Southbound traffic will be diverted from the A12 at junction 17 to travel south on the A130 before turning west and joining the A127 until it meets the A12 at the Gallows Corner junction in Romford.
Northbound traffic will travel eastbound along the A127, before travelling north along the A130, ahead of re-joining the A12 at junction 17.
A local diversion route will also be in place for residents who wish to access the A12 north or southbound during full closures.
What happens next?
We’re finalising the design of the scheme and look forward to meeting with the local community to show those plans at our Public Information Exhibitions, which are planned to take place in February 2023.
When our work is complete, we will have:
- improved safety and provided a smoother rider for road users
- reduced noise levels
- created a new modern road with a 40 to 50-year lifespan that’ll be easier and quicker for us to repair in future
We’ve set up a free SMS alerts service to warn road users, via text message, of any incidents that occur within our roadworks on the A12 during peak travel times.
You can sign up for this service by sending your mobile number to: ConcreteRoadsEssex@nationalhighways.co.uk. Please reference the ‘A12 Margaretting Bypass SMS service’ in the subject line of your email, so it's clear which scheme updates you'd like to register for.
Please note that you can opt out at any time by contacting us at the same email address.
Documents
Related Road projects
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.X
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