A130

The UK’s Essex County Council has announced plan to upgrade the northern section (A12-A132) of the A130 near Chelmsford into a three-lane highway in each direction.

Under the proposed plan, all three lanes of the A130 northern section will be opened to traffic. Road users were until now able to use only two lanes.

The move is said to have been triggered by a significant increase in the number of vehicles using the road, and is slated to be performed ahead of the original schedule.

According to the council, the A130 is currently used by 50,000 vehicles every day.

"Strengthening one of this county’s most strategic routes, as well as making improvements at its key interchanges, is a high priority."

Essex County Council highways and transportation cabinet member councillor Rodney Bass said: "Strengthening one of this county’s most strategic routes, as well as making improvements at its key interchanges, is a high priority.

"We will also be discussing with Highways England how improvements to the A12 might be made concurrently to improve the A130 interchange at Howe Green.

"Meanwhile, traffic flow will be improved at Rettendon to create a more effective link with the A132, an important connection with Wickford and then on to Basildon."

Being funded by County Route (A130), work to upgrade the A130 is scheduled to start in May 2016 and will continue for approximately four months.

The A130 was funded by a private finance initiative under a 30-year design, build, finance and operate contract.

County Route will maintain the road for the duration of the contract, and hand back management of the road to Essex County Council when the contract expires in January 2030.

Image: The A130 road passing over A129 and under A132 in UK. Photo: courtesy of Terryjoyce via Wikipedia.