Drivers react after A12 roadworks run £11million over budget

New information obtained by a Freedom of Information request to National Highways has shown the reconstruction of the A12 between junction 25 and junction 26, which started in October 2022 will also overrun by at least six months.

To add to the frustration for those who use the A12 on a regular basis, only two miles of road has actually been reconstructed, and there are a further two miles of reconstruction still needing to be done.

National Highways blamed “difficult ground conditions, requiring more extensive treatment than originally envisaged, and extended periods of poor weather.”

The news has not gone down well with Gazette readers who suggested similar schemes in other countries would be done in weeks and likened it to the Ipswich Road works which ran over time.

Sam Barfoot said: “Why didn’t they start resurfacing when they were doing the barrier works? Surely that would have caused the least amount of total disruption and all been in the same cost.”

Michael Jones said the roadworks saga had become joke.

He said: “It does make you laugh! It has been winter, it could have had snow on the ground. Yes it has rained, with no heavy frosts, or cold periods I am at a loss of reading excuses why this should be millions over budget!!!

“Would have been interesting to have seen the contract and how the tender was decided! Was this really the best value for money and why the cost of the over spend should fall on the tax payer!!”

Dave Booker said: “This should have been a 24/7 operation once it became clear that the works were behind schedule.

“I now can’t wait until the widening works between Chelmsford and Marks Tey begins!”

Witham MP Dame Priti Patel has said she has left National Highways bosses “in no doubt” of the problems that are being caused by roadworks which will have taken nearly two years by the time they’re finished.

The former Home Secretary has told the Gazette she met with executives last week, telling them disruptions and delays to the works had affected communities where thousands of vehicles have been diverted due to regular road closures.

She said: “While new investment and improvements are welcome, local residents and businesses are increasingly concerned and frustrated with the disruption and delays.

“Last week I discussed these issues and the works with National Highways and left them in no doubt of the problems that are being caused.

“We need the works completed as soon as possible and effective communications and updates provided.”

Dame Priti said she supported Essex County Council being reimbursed by National Highways to repair smaller roads impacted by heavy traffic.

She said: “Communities have also been affected by the diversions in place and I support Essex County Council in their request for National Highways to pay the costs of remedial works needed for those local roads that have been hit hard by extra traffic.”

A National Highways spokesman said: “We had originally expected work to finish this spring but difficult ground conditions, requiring more extensive treatment than originally envisaged, and extended periods of poor weather have contributed to delays.

“This has also contributed towards the additional overall cost.”

The spokesman added other unforeseen construction factors have meant they are unable to provide an exact end date.

He continued: “The estimated end completion in all our current communications is summer 2024.

“Whilst we can’t provide an exact date for completion because poor weather, incidents and other as yet unknown construction factors may change it, we currently expect to be able to fully reopen the A12 to traffic before the August bank holiday.”

No further overnight closures for the A12 are currently scheduled.