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A138 Chelmsford - Replacement of Chelmer Viaduct
A138 Chelmsford - Replacement of Chelmer Viaduct
- Status
- Planned
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- Area 6
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- Other
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A138 Chelmsford - Replacement of Chelmer Viaduct
The Highways Agency plans to replace the existing A138 Chelmer Viaduct and River Bridge in Chelmsford with a new structure.
The existing Chelmer Viaduct and River Bridge (A138 Chelmer Road) carried the old A12 trunk road prior to the opening of the Chelmsford Bypass (now the A12) in 1986. At the time the new A12 bypass was opened, the Chelmer Road was de-trunked and the responsibility for the highway was transferred to Essex County Council. However, due to the condition of the Chelmer Viaduct, responsibility for the structure remained with the Highways Agency.
The objective of the project is to ensure that the vital highway link carried by the structure is safeguarded enabling ownership of the structure to finally be transferred to the local highway authority, Essex County Council.
The proposed scheme would provide an "offline" replacement of the existing structure. The new structure would be constructed slightly to the east of the existing Viaduct and connect into the Army and Navy and Chelmer Village Way Roundabouts at either end. Once construction is complete, traffic would be transferred from the existing Viaduct onto the new structure. The existing Viaduct would then be demolished.
Work on the detailed design of the proposed replacement, together with discharging the planning conditions imposed by the Planning Authority, is ongoing. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory procedures, an advertisement in the Official Journal of the EU seeking expressions of interest from potential contractors could be published in late 2011. This would enable the procurement process to commence in early 2012, with construction work on the replacement viaduct starting on site in early summer 2012. It is anticipated that the new Viaduct will take approximately 18 months to construct, with a further six months for the demolition of the existing viaduct.
