The eerie 'abandoned' section of A12 near Essex which has been left redundant since the 1980s

If you're a resident or worker in Essex, chances are you're well-acquainted with the A12. This major route cuts through the heart of our county, ferrying traffic from east London all the way to Lowestoft in Suffolk.

Established in 1922 as part of the Great Britain road numbering scheme, the A12 has been instrumental in linking the east coast to London ever since. It's also a lifeline for those in Essex needing to commute between Romford, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Witham and Colchester.

However, if your journey on the A12 takes you slightly further north into Suffolk, you may be unaware that you're driving past a section of the A12 that's been out of use since the 1980s.

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Before the construction of the Copdock Interchange, the A12 used to run directly through the villages of Copdock and Washbrook. But this changed in the 1980s when a new interchange was built.

The evolution of the A12 coincided with the construction of the Ipswich southern bypass. Instead of passing through Washbrook and Copdock, the A12 was rerouted slightly east due to the creation of a new bypass.

This move was designed to stop large volumes of traffic from speeding through the two villages. Initially part of the A45, today this bypass forms a section of the A12.

The old section of A12 through Washbrook and Copdock, made almost redundant by the new bypass, now presents a slightly surreal sight - a dual carriageway running through two tiny Suffolk villages with hardly any cars in sight.

Today, the former A12, now known as London Road, is more frequented by pedestrians and cyclists than vehicles. Remnants of its past life, including reflective road studs and an overgrown central reservation, are still visible.

Towering lampposts and faded road markings from its days as a bustling dual-carriageway still adorn the road. The northern part of the road, blocked off by a gate, is a dead-end for traffic stretching approximately 200m.

Pedestrians and cyclists venturing north along the road will pass under the A14 and end up near the Copdock Interchange. So, if you find yourself travelling along the A12 at Washbrook, it might be worth taking a detour to witness this road that seems frozen in time.

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