Smoother journeys for motorists as A12 Margaretting Bypass project completed

National Highways’ work on the £75 million A12 Margaretting Bypass scheme in Essex has been completed – with the road now open to drivers from today (Thursday 8 August). 

Work to repair the existing concrete road, that had to come to end of its serviceable life, began in February 2023.  

Now a new, quieter, asphalt surface will improve journeys for the 35,000 road users who use the route, between junction 13 at Ingatestone and junction 15 at Three Mile Hill, each day.  

The modern road, which will have a lifespan of 40 to 50 years, will be easier and quicker to repair in future – and innovative ways of working during the project have also cut carbon emissions. 

National Highways Project Manager on the scheme, Nisar Ahmad, thanked the local community for their patience. 

He said: “We are thrilled to announce the completion of the A12 Margaretting scheme, a vital project that not only enhances the infrastructure between junctions 13 and 15 but also sets a benchmark for sustainable construction practices. 

“There has been disruption in the process of carrying out this essential work and we thank people for their patience.” 

Almost 58,000 tonnes of asphalt was put down during the construction of the new road and the project team implemented several innovative strategies that significantly reduced the scheme’s CO2 footprint by 58%.  

Measures included recycling the existing concrete and base as part of the construction of the new road, saving 106.8 tonnes of carbon – the equivalent of heating 40 homes annually. Additionally, reducing the surfacing thickness led to a total carbon saving of approximately 17,000 tonnes, equivalent to heating 6,296 houses for a year. 

Sarah Reid, Managing Director – Highways from delivery partner Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, said: 

“These efforts highlight National Highways’ commitment to environmentally responsible construction practices while delivering essential infrastructure improvements. This has been a fantastic scheme to work on. The team have worked hard to deliver this scheme ahead of schedule.” 

More information on the scheme can be found here