Between junctions 19 and 25, a 15-mile stretch of the A12 will be extended from a two-lane dual carriageway to carry three lanes of traffic in each direction under the £1.2 billion plans. In addition, two significant bypasses will be created if the plans are approved: one at Rivenhall End and the other between Kelvedon North and the Marks Tey Interchange (junctions 24-26).
The Planning Inspectorate will review the plans for six months before providing recommendations to the secretary of state for transport, who will ultimately decide whether to issue the development consent order and is now Berwick-upon-Tweed MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan (DCO).
According to Phil Davie, project director for National Highways, “the scope of the work we aim to undertake will transform one of the busiest road links in the east of England, helping to save road users who live, work, and travel in and around Essex a significant amount of time over the course of their weekly commute.”
“Anyone who resides in the area is familiar with the problem of huge trucks using local roads as rat runs for traffic. This is hazardous and has a negative impact on nearby towns and villages. With the help of our plan, that traffic will return to the A12, where it belongs. Our initiatives will contribute to future-proofing the region in terms of new housing and fostering sustained economic growth in this rapidly expanding region of the nation. For the project team and everyone else who has supported and helped move this project ahead over the years, the decision to approve the DCO application represents a significant milestone.”
English 