Traffic Bulletin: Weekday overnight closures planned on the A120 in Essex for essential repairs

To allow us to complete this work safely requires eastbound and westbound road closures. To minimise disruption work will be carried out between 8pm and 6am each weeknight, when there’s less traffic on the road. The section of road is located just east of Colchester and is approximately 9km in length.

Dates and directions of road closures

• 21st October 2024 until December 2024 Eastbound
• January 2025 until March 2025 Westbound

Programme Delivery Manager Karl Brooks from National Highways said: “The surface of concrete roads, designed between the 1950s and 1970s, are now reaching the stage where they will need to be repaired for safety reasons. We apologise for any short term disruption this may cause locally, but it’s essential we carry out this work to ensure a safer and smoother ride on the A120 in the longer term.”

Members of the National Highways project team will be at Elmstead Community Centre's Main Hall to discuss any queries about the work on Friday 11 October 2024 between 1pm and 7pm. The address is School Road, Elmstead Market, Colchester CO7 7ET.

Diversion information

During the closure a signed diversion route will be in place.

• Diversion route 21st October 2024 until December 2024 Eastbound

Traffic will be diverted travel south on the A12, exiting at junction 26, and returning north on the A12 to exit at junction 27 and joining the A133 towards Elmstead Market. At the traffic lights turn left onto Bromley Road/Harwich Road to join the A120 at Little Bentley Roundabout.

• Diversion route January 2025 until March 2025 Westbound

Westbound traffic will exit Little Bentley Roundabout onto Harwich Road/Bromley Road towards Elmstead Market. At the traffic lights turn right and follow the A133 through Colchester to Spring Lane Roundabout before taking the entry slip road to join the A12 southbound at junction 27. Drivers wishing to travel north towards Ipswich and the A14 will continue south on the A12 to exit at junction 26, rejoining the A12 northbound to continue their journey.

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:

Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiries
Option 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)