HIGHWAYS bosses have reached a major milestone in the £37million A12 reconstruction project after finally completing work on the Colchester-bound carriageway.

Work on the project began back in October last year.

It is seeing both sides of the road reconstructed between Marks Tey and Stanway between junctions 25 and 26.

Reconstruction involves completely removing the concrete road surface and some of the foundations, before rebuilding the road and resurfacing it with asphalt.

Now, National Highways has announced it has completed its work on the Colchester-bound carriageway between junction 25 and 26.

Bosses were pleased with the completion date, despite noted challenges such as facing “the wettest March on record and the unexpected ground conditions we found beneath the carriageway”, which meant the excavations and installation of the new foundations took longer than expected.

As well as resurfacing, all of the kerbs, road markings, cat’s eyes and safety barriers have been replaced, alongside the drainage system being updated.

A spokesman said: We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to all customers, residents, in particular those living on the diversion route, and businesses for their patience whilst we’ve carried out the work.”

National Highways has also announced the next set of closures to hit the major road as part of the scheme.

The A12 southbound carriageway closures will be in place to install the barrier that will separate them from the live traffic.

Each closure will be overnight from 9pm to 5am each night to allow Highways workers to begin the reconstruction of the London-bound carriageway.

On Monday, November 13, Tuesday 14 November and from Saturday, November 18 to Tuesday, November 21, there will be a full closure of the A12 London-bound between J29 Ardleigh Crown Interchange and J25 Marks Tey.

On the same days, there will also be a full closure of the J27 London-bound entry slip road.

“We are also working collaboratively with the maintenance team and sharing our closures, to minimise the amount of time we need to have the A12 closed”, a spokesman said.

For more information, visit the National Highways website.