A SET of new diversions are set to be put in place today until next Wednesday as part of the continued redevelopment of the A12.

From each evening between Monday, November 21 and Wednesday, November 30, the A12 will be closed during the hours of 8pm and 6am.

The stretch of the A12 affected runs from Junction 26 in Stanway to Junction 12 in Boreham, near Chelmsford.

Drivers travelling between Colchester and Chelmsford will be diverted to the A1124 between Halstead and Eight Ash Green, the B1408 London Road, the A120, the A131, and the A130.

It is part of major works to upgrade the A12 and replace the concrete road surface.

A National Highways spokesman previously said: “We are carrying out a large scale programme to repair or replace around half the old-style concrete roads in the country during the next five years.

"The east of England has the highest concentration of concrete roads across the network managed by National Highways, and this includes the A12.

"Work has started to reconstruct the A12 between junction 25 Marks Tey and junction 26 Stanway.

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

"The majority of our work will take place under a ‘contraflow’ system.

"By working under contraflow, we will be able to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction on the A12 for the majority of the construction period.

"Full closures will be required at the start of each phase of work so we can adjust our traffic management to allow us to work in other lanes.

"While this work is necessary, we are aware of the inconvenience this causes to those regularly using the road and we remain grateful for their patience while this is completed.

“All closures are planned, publicised and kept to an absolute minimum."