A MAJOR road in Essex is set to close this weekend as roadwork continues.

National Highways are reminding road users on the M25 and in Essex that part of the A12 will be closed this weekend as work continues on a multi-million-pound project to improve the carriageway.

The road will be blocked off starting 8pm this Friday, May 12, and will run on the northbound side between junction 12 and junction 15.

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It will remain in place until 6am on Monday, May 15 with the resulting congestion possibly backing up to the nearby M25.

Throughout the weekend the southbound carriageway will remain open as normal.

The latest closure is to allow for the drainage system to be completely overhauled and forms part of a £65 million investment to improve and futureproof the A12 Margaretting Bypass for decades to come.

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Nisar Ahmad, the National Highways project manager, said: "We are sorry for the inconvenience this weekend work will cause, but we are doing everything we can to minimise disruption at the busiest times; that is why we are working at weekends and overnight.

"To keep traffic moving in both directions and limit the need for any further closures we are also installing a contraflow system later this year."