Improvements to the A12 between Colchester and Ipswich could be on the cards in the next round of Government road spending in a bid to make the route fit for the 21st Century.
With the Department for Transport (DfT) already committed to increasing the A12 to three lanes between Chelmsford and Marks Tey by 2020, this would see almost the entire road widened between Ipswich and the M25.
A Highways England officer has described plans to widen the road between Colchester and Ipswich as being “expected to be included” in the second Route Improvement Strategy (RIS) from the Department for Transport, which will run from 2020-25.
The first RIS revealed that the A12 would be made three lanes in each direction between Chelmsford and Colchester – junctions 19-25 – with a public consultation expected early next year.
The then Chancellor George Osborne also announced in the 2014 Autumn Statement proposals to widen to three lanes the Colchester bypass, between junctions 27-29.
But the latest scheme would see the “remainder of the route” to the A14 widened.
Although widening does not necessarily mean adding an extra lane, it could include improvements to dangerous junctions such as those around East Bergholt, and potentially the Copdock Mill interchange with the A14.
James Cartlidge, MP for South Suffolk, said: “It is well known that the junctions on the A12 at East Bergholt and nearby are extremely unpopular with my constituents and motorists who have to use them on a regular basis.
“If it was the case that these junctions were to be addressed or the stretch of road nearby were to be improved as a result of the reference in this document, that would be a major development for South Suffolk.
“I will be writing to Highways England to seek further clarification.
“When I have previously spoken to them [about the junctions] they had indicated no plans to improve them at present.”
Will Quince, MP for Colchester, added: “All the MPs in the area have been lobbying very hard for road and rail infrastructure improvements which is why we are seeing investment currently between Chelmsford and Colchester, and why we are pushing hard for the A120 to be dualled between Braintree and Colchester, and the obvious next link is between Colchester and Ipswich.
“There’s no question there’s a good, logical, economic argument. I have not seen any detail but I will keep arguing for schemes of this nature, because that is how we unlock business growth – bring economic prosperity and jobs.”
Mr Quince added he had been arguing for an Ipswich link to be added to junction 27 at Colchester, which is currently only accessible for northbound traffic leaving the A12 and London-bound traffic joining the route.
The Highways England comment was made in response to Colchester’s draft Local Plan, a blueprint for growth in the borough until 2033.
A DfT spokesman said: “We are investing a record £15billion to improve motorways and major A-roads to deliver better journeys for drivers – this includes widening the A12 to three lanes between Chelmsford and the A120.
“Highways England is identifying which projects we should consider investing in after 2020 to help reduce congestion. They are due to report back to us next year.”
Published by the East Anglian Daily Times.
