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| Witham residents on living by the UK's longest-running roadworks | Witham residents on living by the UK's longest-running roadworks |
| (4 days later) | |
| Phil Barlow says the decade-long disruption causes a "huge amount of anger and frustration" for drivers | Phil Barlow says the decade-long disruption causes a "huge amount of anger and frustration" for drivers |
| Ten years ago Zayn Malik left One Direction, Richard III was reburied and the average pint cost £3.31. In the Essex town of Witham, a set of temporary traffic lights were turned on for the very first time. Despite a decade passing and it being revealed that at least half a million pounds has been spent on the traffic management, no work has started on upgrading Woodend Bridge. What is it like for those living near the National Highways' longest-running roadworks? | Ten years ago Zayn Malik left One Direction, Richard III was reburied and the average pint cost £3.31. In the Essex town of Witham, a set of temporary traffic lights were turned on for the very first time. Despite a decade passing and it being revealed that at least half a million pounds has been spent on the traffic management, no work has started on upgrading Woodend Bridge. What is it like for those living near the National Highways' longest-running roadworks? |
| It is early on a Monday morning and the queues are already building. | It is early on a Monday morning and the queues are already building. |
| For many commuters, business owners and residents, it has been the same story since 2015. | For many commuters, business owners and residents, it has been the same story since 2015. |
| They are all waiting to cross Woodend Bridge, which runs over Essex's busiest route - the A12 - and leads to its London-bound carriageway south of Witham. | They are all waiting to cross Woodend Bridge, which runs over Essex's busiest route - the A12 - and leads to its London-bound carriageway south of Witham. |
| Most of the motorists sitting bumper-to-bumper on Hatfield Road would not have been able to point to the bridge on a map a decade ago. | Most of the motorists sitting bumper-to-bumper on Hatfield Road would not have been able to point to the bridge on a map a decade ago. |
| But nowadays it has become the go-to hangout for those wanting to lose 20 minutes during rush hour. | But nowadays it has become the go-to hangout for those wanting to lose 20 minutes during rush hour. |
| A Freedom of Information response shows £473,196 has been spent on the traffic light contraflow since 2019. | A Freedom of Information response shows £473,196 has been spent on the traffic light contraflow since 2019. |
| Such is the bridge's notoriety, it has been jokingly ranked Witham's number one attraction on review site TripAdvisor. | Such is the bridge's notoriety, it has been jokingly ranked Witham's number one attraction on review site TripAdvisor. |
| One tongue-in-cheek review reads: "Although it can be slightly annoying to be stuck at these lights, the pure joy and euphoria you feel when the light is green is out of this world." | One tongue-in-cheek review reads: "Although it can be slightly annoying to be stuck at these lights, the pure joy and euphoria you feel when the light is green is out of this world." |
| Another reviewer joked Woodend Bridge offered a space of "tranquil beauty" | Another reviewer joked Woodend Bridge offered a space of "tranquil beauty" |
| For many living in the town, just under six miles (10km) north-east along the A12 from Chelmsford, the situation has gone beyond a joke. | For many living in the town, just under six miles (10km) north-east along the A12 from Chelmsford, the situation has gone beyond a joke. |
| "It's quite embarrassing when you read the news and see you've got the longest-running roadworks in the country," says Tina Townsend, who runs the Witham Hub community centre. | "It's quite embarrassing when you read the news and see you've got the longest-running roadworks in the country," says Tina Townsend, who runs the Witham Hub community centre. |
| The roads of south Witham are places she chooses to avoid now, but her lorry driver husband is not so fortunate. | The roads of south Witham are places she chooses to avoid now, but her lorry driver husband is not so fortunate. |
| "It is ridiculous," Ms Townsend adds. "As someone who loves the town, I don't really think this is the thing I want us to be remembered by. | "It is ridiculous," Ms Townsend adds. "As someone who loves the town, I don't really think this is the thing I want us to be remembered by. |
| "We should be known for something nice like the river walk." | "We should be known for something nice like the river walk." |
| 'Pure waste of money' | 'Pure waste of money' |
| The roadworks are the longest-running on National Highways' 4,500-mile network, which covers mostly motorways and major A-roads. | The roadworks are the longest-running on National Highways' 4,500-mile network, which covers mostly motorways and major A-roads. |
| The Freedom of Information request, made by the BBC, has uncovered the £473,196 figure for post-2019 costs. | The Freedom of Information request, made by the BBC, has uncovered the £473,196 figure for post-2019 costs. |
| National Highways has been unable to provide costs from 2015 to 2019. | National Highways has been unable to provide costs from 2015 to 2019. |
| Driving instructor Steve Thomas says he warns his students about the traffic issues caused by the temporary lights | Driving instructor Steve Thomas says he warns his students about the traffic issues caused by the temporary lights |
| Steve Thomas, who has run a driving school in Witham for eight years, says he warns his students about the "permanent/temporary traffic lights". | Steve Thomas, who has run a driving school in Witham for eight years, says he warns his students about the "permanent/temporary traffic lights". |
| "If I have an early morning driving test in Chelmsford, I have to think about how long it's going to take us to get out of Witham and get to the test centre on time," he says. | "If I have an early morning driving test in Chelmsford, I have to think about how long it's going to take us to get out of Witham and get to the test centre on time," he says. |
| "I've seen it first-hand the amount of traffic that can build up here because of the lights. | "I've seen it first-hand the amount of traffic that can build up here because of the lights. |
| "They've been there a decade now and it's just too long. | "They've been there a decade now and it's just too long. |
| "It's a pure waste of money that is costing the taxpayer." | "It's a pure waste of money that is costing the taxpayer." |
| While taking traffic over the A12, the junction also has a turn leading to a kennels and cattery, as well as farmland. | While taking traffic over the A12, the junction also has a turn leading to a kennels and cattery, as well as farmland. |
| However, motorists returning from these destinations have found their side of the road blocked by concrete barriers since three crashes badly damaged the bridge between 2014 and 2015. | However, motorists returning from these destinations have found their side of the road blocked by concrete barriers since three crashes badly damaged the bridge between 2014 and 2015. |
| Despite the bridge's Witham-bound traffic being less frequent than those accessing the A12, residents say the traffic lights treat them as equally busy. | Despite the bridge's Witham-bound traffic being less frequent than those accessing the A12, residents say the traffic lights treat them as equally busy. |
| "They're inconveniencing the majority for the sake of the few that actually come that way," adds Mr Thomas. | "They're inconveniencing the majority for the sake of the few that actually come that way," adds Mr Thomas. |
| Alistair McColm, who runs the kennels and cattery, previously told the BBC his staff often received abuse from motorists over delays caused by the roadworks. | Alistair McColm, who runs the kennels and cattery, previously told the BBC his staff often received abuse from motorists over delays caused by the roadworks. |
| Mr McColm, who was approached to comment on this story, also pointed out that farmers needed to use the bridge back into Witham as well. | Mr McColm, who was approached to comment on this story, also pointed out that farmers needed to use the bridge back into Witham as well. |
| Tina Townsend says Witham has much more to offer than troublesome roadworks | Tina Townsend says Witham has much more to offer than troublesome roadworks |
| Witham Town Council leader Phil Barlow blames "incompetent" traffic management for raising tensions. | Witham Town Council leader Phil Barlow blames "incompetent" traffic management for raising tensions. |
| "It is ridiculed by residents, but it's also a frustration and a delay," the Labour councillor says. | "It is ridiculed by residents, but it's also a frustration and a delay," the Labour councillor says. |
| "They seem to have a highway management vehicle parked there every morning, but they don't seem to do anything. | "They seem to have a highway management vehicle parked there every morning, but they don't seem to do anything. |
| "You can queue back past the Aldi roundabout because of the traffic management over the bridge. | "You can queue back past the Aldi roundabout because of the traffic management over the bridge. |
| "That adds a two to three-minute delay but actually, that delay causes a huge amount of anger and frustration for residents." | "That adds a two to three-minute delay but actually, that delay causes a huge amount of anger and frustration for residents." |
| 'Black hole' | 'Black hole' |
| The councillor promises there will be a "huge sigh of relief" across the town when the works are completed. | The councillor promises there will be a "huge sigh of relief" across the town when the works are completed. |
| Phil Harris, a 64-year-old energy sector worker, will be among them. | Phil Harris, a 64-year-old energy sector worker, will be among them. |
| He says his daily commute from Witham is 15 minutes longer every day thanks to the traffic lights. | He says his daily commute from Witham is 15 minutes longer every day thanks to the traffic lights. |
| "Some of these projects are like a black hole, money just gets thrown at it," he says. | "Some of these projects are like a black hole, money just gets thrown at it," he says. |
| "But what's the alternative - close the bridge and make everyone use the country lanes instead?" | "But what's the alternative - close the bridge and make everyone use the country lanes instead?" |
| Woodend Bridge carries traffic over the A12 at the Witham South junction | Woodend Bridge carries traffic over the A12 at the Witham South junction |
| Responding to the BBC, National Highways says it cannot begin work immediately due to uncertainty about the A12 widening project. | Responding to the BBC, National Highways says it cannot begin work immediately due to uncertainty about the A12 widening project. |
| It explains the decade-long lane closure has been necessary because the bridge is "unable to safely support the weight of traffic". | It explains the decade-long lane closure has been necessary because the bridge is "unable to safely support the weight of traffic". |
| Highways chiefs believe "complex" work to install a replacement bridge beam will begin at the end of 2025 and finish next year, at a cost of £1.6m. | Highways chiefs believe "complex" work to install a replacement bridge beam will begin at the end of 2025 and finish next year, at a cost of £1.6m. |
| "Much of our focus has been finalising a design that causes the least disruption to drivers who rely on the A12 that runs underneath," a spokesman says. | "Much of our focus has been finalising a design that causes the least disruption to drivers who rely on the A12 that runs underneath," a spokesman says. |
| "We acknowledge the duration that traffic management has been in place for the safety of those using the bridge and apologise for any inconvenience." | "We acknowledge the duration that traffic management has been in place for the safety of those using the bridge and apologise for any inconvenience." |
| Traffic has been restricted to one carriageway on the bridge, which leads towards an A12 slip road | Traffic has been restricted to one carriageway on the bridge, which leads towards an A12 slip road |
| But what will those who have been blighted by the works do when they are finally removed? | But what will those who have been blighted by the works do when they are finally removed? |
| Mr Thomas jokes he will "drive up and down it enjoying the clear road", while Barlow hopes to drop off an 11th birthday cake before the lights are scurried away. | Mr Thomas jokes he will "drive up and down it enjoying the clear road", while Barlow hopes to drop off an 11th birthday cake before the lights are scurried away. |
| Yet many are not in a hurry to forget the cult attraction. | Yet many are not in a hurry to forget the cult attraction. |
| One former commuter posts online: "I miss the days of sitting, staring at the solitary red light, waiting for the mystery invisible traffic to pass in the opposite direction." | One former commuter posts online: "I miss the days of sitting, staring at the solitary red light, waiting for the mystery invisible traffic to pass in the opposite direction." |
| Listen: A bridge repair in Witham is the UK’s longest-running roadworks | |
| Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |
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