Are the UK's longest-running roadworks holding this town back?

Delays at the UK's longest-running roadworks look likely to rumble into their 13th year.

There has been a lane closure and temporary traffic lights at Woodend Bridge in Witham, Essex, since the structure was damaged in 2015.

AJ Grand-Scrutton, whose gaming studio in the town has worked with Disney and Nintendo, is among those fed-up with the wait.

But National Highways says the repairs to the bridge - which runs over the busy A12 - are "complex" and require detailed planning.

Witham Town Council now expects the work to be completed in the 2027-28 financial year.

How do people living in the town feel about the prospect of more time wasted sitting in traffic queues?

Huge brands in the gaming industry have worked with Grand-Scrutton's company.

But he fears the impressive reputation built up by his Witham-based firm will be damaged by the rumblings caused by Woodend Bridge.

"If we have a partner come down and see [the roadworks], and then come back six years later and the same thing's still there, it sends this message that people don't necessarily care about Witham," he explains.

The roadworks are the longest-running on National Highways' 4,500-mile (7,242km) network, which covers mostly motorways and major A-roads.

Such is their notoriety, the bridge has been jokingly ranked Witham's top attraction on review site TripAdvisor.

"At what point do they stop being temporary?," Grand-Scrutton asks.

The BBC previously revealed National Highways spent more than £470,000 on running the traffic light contraflow between 2019 and March 2025.

But, according to meeting papers from Witham Town Council, fixing the bridge has not been the priority for the town.

Engineers have been installing a new roundabout nearby.

Witham taxi driver Jason Symonds says tailbacks at rush hour can stretch up to one mile (1.6km) in length.

He says customers have nearly missed flights and hospital workers have been late for work as a result.

"We don't get paid to sit here with passengers in the car, so we're losing out on other work too," Symonds adds.

"It's just very frustrating. It causes unnecessary grief for everyone."

The roadworks were put in place in 2015 after three crashes badly damaged the bridge.

It takes traffic on to the southbound A12, but also has a turn leading to a kennels and cattery, as well as farmland.

Traffic is rarely seen going over the bridge heading northbound.

Rob Webber, who lives in Witham, tells the BBC the situation has "passed the point of being laughable".

"How long do we have to be sat behind red lights with nothing coming just to leave Witham in the morning?," he questions.

Jim Purtill, vice-chairman of Witham Town FC, says it has caused issues for some of the club's board members.

"I've been leaving meetings at midnight and it's caused frustration then," he explains.

"But I can't imagine what it's like for people at rush hour."

The town council believes a decision was made not to repair the bridge because it was due to be demolished ahead of work to widen the A12 dual carriageway.

But the widening project was finally scrapped in July.

National Highways has been drawing up blueprints for the eventual repairs, but cannot reopen the bridge until a replacement beam is installed.

It says work to design the bespoke beam, which is expected to cost £1.6m, is ongoing.

A spokesman adds: "Repairing the integral structure of this bridge is complex and much of our focus has been finalising a design that causes the least disruption to drivers who rely on the A12 that runs underneath.

"We acknowledge the duration that traffic management has been in place for the safety of those using the bridge and apologise for any inconvenience."

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