A14 concrete surface repairs and maintenance

We've been carrying out repairs and maintenance on the stretches of concrete road surface on the A14 carriageway between junction 52 and junction 55 in both directions, as well as other repairs and maintenance during 2021. The work included repairs to the concrete surface on the main carriageway, clearing drains, repainting road markings, and inserting new reflective road studs (cat’s eyes).

Start date 14 January 2021

End date End of February 2021

Cost £2.7 million

The East region has the highest concentration of concrete roads on our road network, including the A14, A12, A120 and M11.

Around half of the old-style concrete roads will either have repairs or will be replaced during next five years.

We’ll be using innovative techniques and new technology to provide a modern road that will last for decades to come, and which is easier and quicker for us to repair in future.

Why we need this 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.

Benefits

Our road repairs will help improve the safety of the road surface. It is essential that we complete repairs to the potholes and cracking to ensure a smoother and safer ride on the A14. Once complete, we expect the life of the road surface to be extended by up to 7 more years.

Project information

We will be working on the concrete road surface on A14 from J47 Haughley to J49 Tothill, starting late 2022. Details will follow closer to the work starting. Ahead of this work, we'll be doing surveys from 1 December 2021, with road closures. More details to follow.

We resurfaced and repaired potholes and cracks in the concrete road surface on the A14 main carriageway between junction 52 and junction 55 in both directions. This project is part of the Highways England concrete roads programme in the East region.

To keep traffic flowing on the A14 whilst we carry out work, a temporary contraflow system was used. This is where traffic is transferred from its usual side to share the other half of the carriageway, with traffic moving in both directions.

We coordinated these roadworks around our project to make changes to the Orwell Bridge: the improvements will help avoid bridge closures during high winds (up to 70mph).