A120 Ardleigh Interchange to Harwich Road roundabout concrete surface repairs and maintenance

We'll be carrying out specialist repairs and maintenance on the stretches of the concrete road surface on the A120 between Ardleigh Interchange and Harwich Road roundabout in both directions during 2024/25.

Start date Summer 2024

End date Autumn/Winter 2024

Cost £11.4 million

Latest updates

Road closures

We’re closing the A120 between Ardleigh and Harwich Road roundabout so that we can carry out road surveys in preparation for the concrete road repairs and maintenance.

This work will be carried out between 10:30pm and 4am each night:

Date of road closure Direction of road closure

5 June 2023 until 10 June 2023 Eastbound

12 June 2023 until 18 June 2023 Westbound

A fully signed diversion route will be in place overnight - please use the diversion route below.

Please note that all closures are subject to change at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances or poor weather conditions.

Please check this webpage and our Twitter feed (@HighwaysEAST) for the latest information before you travel.

Diversion information

During these road closures, eastbound traffic will travel eastbound along the A1232 from Ardleigh Interchange, before joining the A133 eastbound, then joining the B1029 to the Harwich Road Roundabout to re-join the A120.

Westbound traffic will travel westbound along the B1029 from the Harwich Road Roundabout, before joining the A133 westbound, then joining the A1232 to Ardleigh Interchange to re-join the A120.

Date of road closure	Direction of road closure
5 June 2023 until 10 June 2023	Eastbound
12 June 2023 until 18 June 2023	Westbound

See more updates

Project information

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.

This video explains the process we go through to rebuild concrete roads:

The A120 links Stansted Airport with Colchester and the Port of Harwich with the M11 and A12. The objective of the scheme is to undertake Life Extension Work (LEW) on the A120 Ardleigh Interchange to Harwich Road roundabout. The scheme is located just east of Colchester and is approximately 9km in length.

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.

Our road repairs will help improve the safety of the road surface. It is essential that we complete specialist repairs to the potholes and cracking to ensure a smoother and safer ride on the A12. Once complete, we expect the life of the road surface to be extended by up to 10 more years.

We’re planning to use 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.