National Highways has started work on a £37m project to reconstruct and replace the concrete road surface on a section of the A12.
The works between junctions 25 and 26 are part of its nationwide drive to revitalise concrete roads across the country.
The scheme will see the concrete road surface completely removed, along with some of the foundations, before rebuilding the road with recycled material and a new asphalt road surface.
The project will also see replacement kerbs installed, the drainage system refurbished, safety barriers replaced, new road markings and new reflective road studs.
Programme delivery manager Karl Brooks said: ‘The A12 is one of the region's most important roads, helping to connect London with Suffolk, a vital route every day for work journeys and home deliveries, visits to friends and family, and the movement of goods and services.
‘The road is now in desperate need of upgrades. Once complete, 80,000 drivers who travel on this carriageway every day will benefit from improved safety, a smoother road surface and reduced noise.’
As a part of the current (2020-25) Road Investment Strategy, National Highways is spending £400m in the next three years to improve the quality of existing concrete roads across the country.
Concrete roads make up almost 400 miles (4%) of the strategic road network and are mostly located along the eastern side of the country, in the North East, Yorkshire, East Anglia and the South East.
The work will be carried out in four phases, using a two-lane contraflow system that will keep the A12 open during the day at a reduced capacity, but with overnight closures between 8pm and 6am.
National Highways said it expects the scheme to be complete in early 2024.
