A12 jam after expansion joint failure

Highway Agency engineers are investigating the failure in hot weather of expansion joints in the six-lane A12 at Stanway near Colchester Essex.

Traffic was disrupted on Monday after police reported a problem on the southbound carriageway. It was found that the concrete pavement had failed at two points where concrete slabs had expanded and pushed upwards by some 75mm. The Highways Agency said that it was not yet clear what had caused the problem but temporary repairs were underway as CJ went to press.