MALDON drivers may want to know that one carriageway of a large section of the A12 will be closed during the daytime this weekend (7 and 8 November) and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday up to Christmas.

The massive resurfacing project will see closures of the busy road from 8am to 6pm between junction 19 near Chelmsford and junction 25, close to Marks Tey, at weekends. The work is scheduled to end on Sunday, 20 December.

The northbound carriageway will be closed in the first four weekends and in the last three weekends, the southbound will close.

The extensive project is described as "vital" and will see repair of the many potholes and flaws, upgrading the surface between Witham and Kelvedon.

A spokesperson for Highways England said: "The surface of this road was laid in the 1960s and despite serving us well it's coming towards the end of its life and needs a vital upgrade.

"Our work will make this stretch of the A12 smoother and safer, ensuring it is fit for the future."

Around 80,000 drivers use this stretch of the A12 every day.