A12 Margaretting Bypass (junctions 13 to 15) concrete road reconstruction

We are rebuilding the A12 Margaretting Bypass between junction 13 (Ingatestone) to junction 15 (Webb’s Farm Interchange/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.

Start date 27 February 2023

End date Summer 2024

Cost £65 million

Latest updates

05 July 2024
Work nears completion

After we’ve moved our roadworks into their final layout, we’ll need a series of overnight closures throughout July 2024 to complete the remaining activities before we finish our work.

During our overnight closures, we’ll be busy completing a variety of jobs, such as:
- Finishing the reconstruction of the central reservation
- Reinstating crossover locations
- Installing new signs
We’ll also remove all traffic management from the A12, ahead of scheme completion and the return to 70mph in early August 2024. We’ll be sure to provide more information regarding scheme completion in the coming weeks.

To work safely, we'll need to close the motorway and slip roads at various locations. Please remember that closure details can change at short notice. For the most up-to-date information on dates, times and locations, check our daily closures page.

Diversion routes will be clearly signposted. Please don't follow your satnav during any closure and check your journey before you travel.

If you have any queries about this work, please contact us by email: info@nationalhighways.co.uk or call 0300 123 5000.

Diversion route information

During the overnight road closures, the following signed diversion routes will be in place:

Southbound traffic will be diverted south at junction 17 onto the A130, before travelling west on the A127, ahead of re-joining the A12 at the Gallows Corner roundabout.

Northbound traffic will be diverted south on the A12 to Gallows Corner, traffic will then travel east on the A127, then onto the A130 northbound to re-join the A12 at J17.

All dates are subject to change due to operational requirements and weather conditions.

See more updates

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

A12 Margaretting Bypass diversion route

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.