PLANS have been unveiled to completely redesign the road system around the Northern Gateway development in Colchester.

Colchester Council is developing designs to redevelop the roads near junction 28 of the A12, at Colchester United’s Jobserve Community Stadium.

The changes are being designed in conjunction with the Northern Gateway development, which will bring a new leisure complex including a cinema, 350 homes, business units and a sports complex to the area.

Gazette:

  • The £29 million Northern Gateway Sports Park is complete

The road layout is set to be completely redesigned to accommodate the area’s growth.

Plans will see a traffic light junction replace the roundabout linking Axial Way, United Way and Via Urbis Romanae.

Gazette:

  • The roundabout at Axial Way could be replaced with traffic lights 

A new priority lane will be created into Axial Way for southbound traffic whilst an additional southbound lane off the junction of Axial Way, United Way and Via Urbis Romanae is set to be created.

New traffic light junctions will also be created from Axial Way into the Northern Gateway south site, where the homes and business units will be built.

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A raft of adaptations are also being designed to improve walking and cycling in the area.

A new route linking all three parts of the development called The Walk will be created whilst new crossing points over the A12 sliproads have been added.

The leisure complex is set to be linked with public transport routes and the £100 million so-called Rapid Transit System, which will run from the nearby Park and Ride site, will link Northern Gateway with the town centre.

Theresa Higgins, councillor responsible for commercial services, said: “The new roadworks will enable us to explore a number of schemes to improve walking and cycling in the area, putting active lifestyles and sustainable transport at the heart of our plans and ensuring we remain true to our climate emergency pledge.

“This is a hugely ambitious project Colchester can be proud of and will bring numerous tangible benefits to the borough.

“It is exciting to see the progress now being made with the help of our commercial companies and partners, especially given the considerable challenges over the last year.”

Gazette:

  • The £50 million Northern Gateway Leisure site 

David King, business and resources boss, said: “Colchester is a great destination and place to work, live and visit.

’But it is essential we make sure that the infrastructure and facilities needed does come with development, to serve new and existing residents well across the borough.

“This ambitious master planning strikes that balance.

"It brings investment that will help wellbeing and physical activity as well as jobs, housing and renewable energy.

"It is also hugely important that we do all we can to boost our economy, to help us recover from today's pandemic-driven recession, help jobs, businesses and economic confidence in the future of Colchester.”