page_title: Chelmsford
section_title: Future transport plans
hierarchical_section_title: Chelmsford / Transport / Future transport plans
caption_attribution_description: English: A map displaying the preferred route of the Chelmsford North East Bypass proposal. Overlaid on OpenStreetMap data.
context_page_description: Chelmsford is a city and the county town of Essex, in the East of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately 30 miles northeast of the centre of London at Charing Cross and approximately 22 miles from Colchester. The urban area of the city has a population of approximately 112,000, whilst the district has a population of 168,310.
  The main conurbation of Chelmsford incorporates all or part of the former parishes of Broomfield, Newland Spring, Great Leigh's, The Walthams, Great Baddow, Little Baddow, Galleywood, Howe Green, Margaretting, Pleshey, Stock, Roxwell, Danbury, Writtle, Moulsham, Rettendon, The Hanningfields, The Chignals, Widford and Springfield, including Springfield Barnes, now known as Chelmer Village. The communities of Chelmsford, Massachusetts; Chelmsford, Ontario; and Chelmsford, New Brunswick are named after the city. Chelmsford's population consists of a large number of City and Docklands commuters, attracted by the 30–35-minute journey into Central London via the Great Eastern Main Line railway. The same journey takes at least 60 minutes by road, via the A12.
context_section_description: Proposals for a bypass of Chelmsford connecting the A12 interchange at Boreham (Junction 19) and the A131 were put forward for public consultation by Essex County Council in 2006, the preferred route was announced in March 2007. It comprises the creation of 7.9 km (4 ¹⁵⁄₁₆ mi) of two-lane dual carriageway and junctions connecting to the A12 and A131, it will sever 10 footpaths/bridleways and involve almost entirely greenfield construction. The scheme was estimated to cost £138 million in March 2007 but was increased to an estimated range of £229  – £262 million in February 2008. The scheme still requires funding and planning permission with applications timetabled for 2009–2011, a public inquiry timetabled for 2012 and with an estimated construction start date of 2014–2016. The Chelmsford North Action Group (NAG) objects to this scheme, stating that Chelmsford was to "be engulfed by huge motorways connecting the Channel Ports, via a new Lower Thames Crossing, A130, on to Stansted, M11 and A14".
  A second new Park and Ride scheme on the A130 near Little Waltham in addition to that at Sandon began construction in March 2010 at a price of £7.9 million. There has been criticism of the park and ride as some worry it would be unable to provide a service to the nearby Broomfield Hospital from the new site. The Little Waltham Park and Ride opened in April 2011.
  A new second railway station for the city was announced in September 2009 and is due to be built near the Boreham Interchange. Completion for the project is likely to be in 2020.
caption: Map of route for the proposed new Chelmsford bypass
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