Overview
- Repairs began after three crashes in 2015 damaged Woodend Bridge over the A12, leaving a lane closed with temporary traffic lights ever since.
- Witham Town Council minutes in April reported that full completion is now not expected until the 2027/28 financial year.
- National Highways says the job is technically complex on a busy trunk road and plans to install a replacement bridge beam this year.
- The schedule shifted after the A12 widening plan was canceled in July 2025, a decision MP Priti Patel called a disgrace in a letter to the transport secretary.
- Local firms and drivers report long daily delays, with one studio boss saying a four‑minute trip can take 45 minutes, and the site now has spoof listings on TripAdvisor and Google Maps.