GRAHAM has been appointed as main contractor to deliver the new M11 Junction 7A at Harlow.
The firm said the strategically important new access between Junctions 7 and 8 of the M11 will involve a new junction and link road, connecting the motorway with Gilden Way, east of Harlow, and creating a new east-west link through the town.
The £39.5m scheme is funded through Highways England, the Department for Transport, Essex County Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.
GRAHAM will now begin the detailed design work with design partner AECOM ahead of full construction.
Kevin Bentley, deputy leader and cabinet member for Infrastructure at Essex CC, said: ‘This is a critically important piece of new infrastructure which we have been working with partners for a number of years to help make a reality.
‘This new junction will not only be a boost to the thousands of people who are travelling into and out of Harlow on a daily basis through alleviating some of the congestion issues in the town, but offers new public transport opportunities and will help further unlock the economic potential of Harlow through supporting business growth in the area.’
Stephen Hand, pre-construction director of the GRAHAM Civil Engineering division, said: ‘This hugely beneficial highways scheme is the latest in our growing portfolio of highway improvement schemes.'
The works will see the existing B183 widened, creating an additional lane heading westbound and providing two lanes to the existing London Road Roundabout, which links to the A414.
This will be supported by the conversion of the existing Church Gate Roundabout on the B183 into a ‘hamburger’ style arrangement with traffic lights installed and the existing local road network connected via the creation of a new Campions Roundabout.
Construction is expected to commence on Gilden Way/Sheering Road in late spring, with works on the motorway junction and link road likely to start in the summer or autumn.
The new junction is due to open in 2022.
