LONG-RUNNING A12 roadworks which made motorists' lives "hell" for almost two years are nearly at an end. 

National Highways has some of the final overnight closures for its A12 Junction 25 Marks Tey to Junction 26 Stanway resurfacing scheme this weekend. 

The £36.9million scheme started in October 2022 and National Highways is improving the safety of the road while extending the life of it at the same time.

There are some works concluding tomorrow morning between the A12 southbound’s Junction 26 Stanway and Junction 25 Marks Tey.

Traffic - motorists using the A12Traffic - motorists using the A12 (Image: Newsquest)

There are overnight closures from Thursday to Saturday between 8pm and 6am.

Throughout this period, the A12 southbound will be closed overnight between Junction 29 and Junction 25 for final surfacing works.

Traffic will be diverted to the exit at Junction 29 and can travel along the A1232 Ipswich Road, A133 Cowdray Avenue, B1408 London Road, and re-join the A12 at the Junction 25 Marks Tey southbound entry slip road.

London Road resident Beverley Whitfield is all too familiar with the trials and tribulations this project has caused for her road.

Works to be finished - the A12Works to be finished - the A12 (Image: Newsquest)

She said: “It has been long overdue. They commenced in October 2022. They said it would be done by spring 2024 - they have gone over by five months.

“It has been nearly two years of sleep deprivation and chaos.

“The B1408 which runs from Stanway to Copford to Marks Tey has basically become the A12 over the weekends.

“The dressing tables shake, and you can feel the walls of the house move.

Close-up - more motorists using the A12Close-up - more motorists using the A12 (Image: Newsquest)

“This summer has been intolerable - it has been a living hell.

“Residents up and down this road, everyone has felt the same. It has been a big ask for the residents to put up with this for almost two years.

“It has been dangerous, and it has sounded like a war zone.”

Beverley said diversions put in place by National Highways were “ridiculously unattainable” as they expected drivers to go all the way to Kelvedon then “double black on themselves”.

At night she claims she has heard many vehicles going above the 30mph speed limit for the area.

Nearly two years of road works - A12Nearly two years of road works - A12 (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesman for the National Highways said: “We thank local residents and road users for their patience whilst our work to rebuild the A12 between Junction 25 at Marks Tey and Junction 26 at Stanway continues.

“We apologise for any disruption our diversion routes have caused.

“Diversion routes are chosen, with approval from the local authority, based on the most suitable route when considering length/journey time and capacity/ability to take all vehicle types.

“We’ve also used mitigations such as additional signage and safety camera vans throughout the scheme to help keep traffic flowing safely.”