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Search forKELVEDON: Villagers' fears over A12 rat run
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 08:41
The £6.74million major maintenance scheme to refurbish a stretch of the A12 at Kelvedon begins next Thursday and is expected to last until the spring.
Kelvedon Parish Council chairman Craig Martin said: "Inevitably when we get delays on the A12 there will always be a temptation to go through Kelvedon and we will get a log-jam in the village.
"There is nothing we can do to stop people driving through the village.
"All you can do is appeal to their better nature."
The roadworks will be on the agenda of next month's parish council meeting by which time villagers will have been able to see the effects.
The A12 carriageway between Rivenhall End and Highfields overbridge on the Kelve don bypass is to be strengthened and surfaced with noise-reducing asphalt to provide a smoother, safer and quieter road surface.
Other improvements will be to street lightning, drainage, signs, road markings and footways and cycleways.
Highways Agency project manager Julian O'Dell said: "This stretch of the A12 has reached the end of its life.
"The work to strengthen and refurbish the carriageway will help road users make their journeys safely and reliably on a quieter, smoother road surface and nearby residents will also benefit from the reduced noise.
"During the works, traffic is requested to keep to the 50mph speed limit for the safety of the workforce.
"We will keep delays to a minimum by keeping two lanes of traffic open in both directions during daytime hours."
The work will take place 24 hours a day, except for the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Lane closures will be in place overnight.
During the works there will be slip road closures at J23 A12/B1024 Kelvedon (south) interchange with clearly signed diversions.
Parliament was told by transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick earlier this month that the Highways Agency wanted to spend £22million on major maintenance improvements at Kelvedon and Witham and £2.5million on the southbound auxiliary lane between Hatfield Peverel and Witham, over the next four years.
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