THIS weekend’s closure of the A12 is set to coincide with essential engineering works on the train line.

Highways England engineers are re-installing part of Ewell Bridge, between junctions 23 and 24, at Kelvedon.

The work means the trunk road will be closed northbound between junctions 23 and 24 and southbound between junctions 25, at Marks Tey, and junction 24 from 10pm on Saturday until 4am on Monday.

The closure coincides with engineering work on the train line at Chelmsford on Sunday.

As a result, no trains will run in either direction between Colchester and Ingatestone. Instead, a bus replacement will be in place.

Bosses at Network Rail, which plans and carries out track repairs, set the date for this weekend’s repairs last year and would not have known about the A12 work until this week.

Greater Anglia bosses have negotiated with Highways England to allow some of the firm’s bus replacements to be given priority during the 30-hour closure.

A signed diversion will be in place. Northbound drivers should exit the A12 at junction 19, at Chelmsford North, and take the A131, A130 and A120 to re-join the A12 at junction 25, at Marks Tey.

Southbound drivers should follow the route in reverse.

Once the bridge is installed, work will continue on the bridge until the end of the June.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Our work programme is put together typically 18-months in advance so we wouldn’t have known about this at the time.”

A Highways England spokesman said: “Drivers should note that the A12 closure will be in place throughout the weekend continuously from 10pm on Saturday until 4am on Monday.

“Drivers should plan ahead and consider whether their journeys will be affected during that time before setting out.”

A Greater Anglia spokesman added: “We have been working with Highways England to make sure that our customers can complete their journeys on Sunday.

“Our southbound rail replacement buses will be given priority on their journey to stations south of Colchester, for customers to catch trains from Chelmsford or Ingatestone.

“We still expect traffic to be heavier as a result of the roadworks, so we are advising customers to check before they travel either on the Greater Anglia website, Twitter or app and to allow extra time for their journeys.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers by Network Rail’s engineering works.”