Works commence to improve the Boreham Interchange

The upgrade will facilitate the delivery of a new link road and access to the proposed Beaulieu railway station.

Funded by the developer of Beaulieu, Countryside Zest, a joint venture partnership by Countryside and L&Q, work is commencing on Tuesday 2nd February 2021 to upgrade the Boreham Interchange which will provide relief for local residents and road users.

These vital works form part of a wider package of infrastructure advancements being delivered by Countryside Zest, worth over £35 million, to provide a new link road. The new link road to be known as the A131 will connect the Boreham Interchange to Essex Regiment Way (A130) and replace Colchester Road and White Hart Lane as the strategic route to Braintree, Stansted Airport and the M11, ultimately relieving congestion in and around Springfield.

The new link road which is already constructed in part, will also provide the access to the proposed Beaulieu station which is scheduled to open in 2025/2026. This follows the project being awarded nearly £218m of funding from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund in 2019 in recognition of the scheme’s role in supporting housing growth in North East Chelmsford.

An important step in the sustainable growth of the city, the 1st phase of the capacity improvements at the Boreham Interchange will be completed by Autumn 2021. The majority of the work is being carried out 24 hours a day to reduce the length of disruption, with the existing lanes remaining open during the day. Details of any road closures will be listed in advance on the project website, along with details of the project phases and progress: www.borehamcapacityimprovements.co.uk.

Subsequently a new road bridge connecting the link road to the Boreham Interchange will be constructed, requiring a short period of additional works at the Boreham Interchange to tie in the new bridge. The new link road is planned to open in Autumn 2022.

In line with the final completion of the new link road, road users will see a comprehensive amendment to the traffic signs on Colchester Road and White Hart Lane, to reflect the downgrade of these roads for local users with through traffic signed towards the new link road.

The works at the Boreham Interchange improve the capacity of the interchange by signalising each of the three roundabouts which make up the interchange, but also provide improved pedestrian and cycle facilities particularly for residents from Boreham walking and cycling towards Chelmsford, the commercial areas within Springfield and the planned new railway station at Beaulieu.

Proposals for the new Beaulieu station also include a bus interchange and substantial cycle parking, as well as a dedicated pedestrian and cycle route which will connect both the residential areas and the business park to the new rail station.

Martin Leach, Managing Director, Strategic Land, Countryside said: “Working together with our partners, we’re pleased to commence the Boreham Interchange improvement works which are key in delivering the much-needed new relief road. The new road will provide a more convenient link between the A12 and the A130 taking a substantial amount of traffic away from the local roads as well as providing access to Beaulieu station.”

Craig Luttman, Deputy Group Director of Development and Sales at L&Q said,“The start of works on the Boreham Interchange is great news for Chelmsford – and plays an important part in our plans to deliver a new relief road. Once completed, this will make an important contribution to reducing traffic in the area.”