First Essex | May Bank Holiday 2024

South Hanningfield Road, Rettendon Common is closed for roadworks from Wednesday 1st May to Tuesday 7th May 2024.

Whilst the road is closed, the 13/13A services will divert (in both directions) via Middlemead.

The following bus stops will not be served (in both directions):

• St Peter's School
• Church
• Rettendon Common
• Chalk Street

We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.

Please note: we will be operating a Sunday service over the May bank holidays, except for the Airlink service X30, which will run to a Saturday timetable.

Please plan ahead and refer to timetables: Route maps | First Bus 

High Road, Layer-de-La-Haye, Colchester is closed for roadworks from Thursday 25th April to Monday 13th May 2024 (between 20:00 and 05:00 hours).

Due to the location of the road closure the S6 service will not operate, last journey of the day, to Layer-de-La-Haye. Instead, the S6 service will terminate at Hazell Avenue, Shrub End bus stop. The service will be paused and resume at the next scheduled departure time towards Colchester City Centre.

The following bus stops will not be served (in both directions):

• Centurion Way
• Kingsford Cross Roads
• Greenways
• Playing Fields
• Kingsford Farm
• The Folly
• Old Forge Road
• The Fox

We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.

*Please note. this service update was amended on 03/05/2024.

Reason for amendment: Road closure timings have from been changed from 19:00 and 05:00 to 09:30 - 15:30 on a daily basis.

Bruff Close, Colchester will be closed for roadworks from Tuesday 7th May to Saturday 11th May 2024 (between 09:30 and 15:30 on a daily basis).

Due to the location of the road closure, the S1-S2-11-68-81A services will be unable to serve Bruff Close bus stop (in both directions).

We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.

A section of Station Road, Colne Engaine will be closed for roadworks from Saturday 11th May to Monday 13th May 2024.

Due to the location of the road closure, the 82-82A-82B services will not be able to serve Church Street and will turn around In De Vere Road. The 82-82A-82B services will terminate at Atlas Road bus stop, wait time, and recommence journey at scheduled time back to Colchester.

The following bus stops will not be served (in both directions):

• Oddcroft
• Brook Street
• The Green

We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.

Ford RideLondon-Essex 100 returns to Great Dunmow on Sunday 26th May 2024.

Due to the location of the race route, the X20 service will be placed on diversion to reduce disruption to journey.

The X20 service will divert, in both directions, via the B1256 and Dunmow Bypass.

The following bus stops will not be served (in both directions):

• Oak Industrial Estate
• Gatehouse Villas
• Station Road
• High Street
• Stortford Road
• The Queen Victoria

This is a pre-planned diversion to help reduce disruption to our X20 service - however, due to the nature of the event, there will be increased congestion in and around the area (traffic and crowds) as well as no definitive timings for the days events i.e. road closures could be lifted early or extended dependant on how long it takes race participants to complete sections of the race. Please take this into consideration when making travel plans.

Good luck to all Ford RideLondon-Essex 100 2024 participants!

Ford RideLondon Classique 2024 returns to Maldon on Saturday 25th May 2024.

Stage 2 - Maldon to Maldon

A number of roads will be temporarily closed to traffic whilst the event takes place - we have listed below pre-planned diversions to reduce disruption to our 75 service to/from Maldon.

Market Hill and High Street will be closed for the majority of the day between 04:00 and 20:00hrs.

There are 4 temporary disruptions to the 75 service on Saturday 25th May 2024 only.

1. SERVICE 75 - PRE-PLANNED DIVERSION between 04:00 - 10:30
2. SERVICE 75 - UNABLE TO SERVE HEYBRIDGE/MALDON between 11:30 - 15:30hrs
3. SERVICE 75 - PRE-PLANNED DIVERSION between 15:30 - 20:00hrs
4. SERVICE 75 - MINOR DELAYS between 11:45 - 12:10hrs

1. SERVICE 75 - PRE-PLANNED DIVERSION between 04:00 - 10:30

towards Maldon - the 75 service will divert after serving Tesco bus stop (Maldon) via Fullbridge, A414, Maldon Bypass, Spital Road, Fambridge Road and Cross Road. The service will terminate at Rydal Drive.

The following bus stops will not be served:

• The Swan Hotel
• Wantz Road
• Victoria Road
• Prom Gates
• Lower Plume School
• Blackwater Leisure Centre

towards Colchester - the 75 service will commence journey at Rydal Drive before diverting via Cross Road, Fambridge Road, Spital Road, Maldon Bypass and A414 before returning to normal line of route to serve Tesco bus stop (Maldon).

The following bus stops will not be served:

• Blackwater Leisure Centre
• Jersey Road
• Meadway
• Berridge House
• Victoria Road
• The Swan Hotel

2. SERVICE 75 - UNABLE TO SERVE HEYBRIDGE/MALDON between 11:30 - 15:30hrs

The Causeway, Heybridge, Maldon WILL BE CLOSED for 4 hours (between 11:30 and 15:30hrs). Due to the location of the road closure - the 75 service will be temporarily unable to serve all Heybridge/Maldon bus stops (from Oak Road to Blackwater Leisure Centre).

The 75 service will terminate at Brewster House bus stop, wait time, and recommence journey at scheduled time back to Colchester. 

3. SERVICE 75 - PRE-PLANNED DIVERSION between 15:30 - 20:00hrs

The pre-planned diversion will be enforced between 04:00 and 10:30 and 15:30 - 20:00 only*.

towards Maldon - the 75 service will divert after serving Tesco bus stop (Maldon) via Fullbridge, A414, Maldon Bypass, Spital Road, Fambridge Road and Cross Road. The service will terminate at Rydal Drive.

The following bus stops will not be served:

• The Swan Hotel
• Wantz Road
• Victoria Road
• Prom Gates
• Lower Plume School
• Blackwater Leisure Centre

towards Colchester - the 75 service will commence journey at Rydal Drive before diverting via Cross Road, Fambridge Road, Spital Road, Maldon Bypass and A414 before returning to normal line of route to serve Tesco bus stop (Maldon).

The following bus stops will not be served:

• Blackwater Leisure Centre
• Jersey Road
• Meadway
• Berridge House
• Victoria Road
• The Swan Hotel

4. SERVICE 75 - MINOR DELAYS between 11:45 - 12:10hrs

There will be a rolling road closure between Birch and Tiptree (11:45 and 12:10hrs) - the 75 service could be halted for a short time caused minor delays to service.

These are all pre-planned diversions to help reduce disruption to our 75 service - however, due to the nature of the event, there will be increased congestion in and around the area (traffic and crowds) as well as no definitive timings for the days events i.e. road closures could be lifted early or extended dependant on how long it takes race participants to complete sections of the race. Please take this into consideration when making travel plans.

Good luck to all Ford RideLondon Classique 2024 participants!

Ford RideLondon Classique 2024 returns to Colchester on Friday 24th May 2024.

Stage 1 - Saffron Walden to Colchester

A number of roads will be temporarily closed to traffic whilst the event takes place - we have listed below pre-planned diversions to reduce disruption to our Colchester network.

East Hill, Colchester will be closed for the majority of the day between 05:00 and 20:00hrs.

Colchester services that could be temporarily paused for rolling road closures:

Colchester services to be placed on pre-planned diversions: 

• 1A
• 2A
• 87
• 102/104

Service 87

towards Brightlingsea - the 87 service will divert after serving The George bus stop via Queen Street, Magdalen Street, Barrack Street, Hythe Hill and Hythe Station Road before returning to normal line of route.

towards Great Horkesley - the 87 service will divert after serving o/s Tesco Store bus stop (The Hythe) via Hythe Station Road, Hythe Hill and Magdalen Street before returning to normal line of route.

The following bus stops will not be served (in both directions):

• Greyfriars
• The Surgery
• Brook Street
• Greenstead Road
• Kerry Court
• Tabor Road
• Davey Close
• Station Road

Services 1A/2A/102/104

towards Greenstead/Highwoods/Harwich - the 1A/2A/102/104 services will divert after serving The George bus stop via Queen Street, Magdalen Street, Barrack Street, Hythe Hill, Hythe Station Road, Greenstead Road and Harwich Road before returning to normal line of route (the 2A service will further divert via St Andrew's Avenue before returning to normal line of route).

towards Colchester City Centre - the 1A/2A/102/104 services will divert via Greenstead Road (the 2A service will divert beforehand via St Andrew's Avenue and Harwich Road), Hythe Station Road, Hythe Hill and Magdalen Street before returning to normal line of route.

The following bus stops will not be served (in both directions):

• Greyfriars
• The Surgery
• Brook Street
• opp Greenstead Road
• Old Coach Road (1A & 2A only)
• St Andrews Gardens (1A only)

These are all pre-planned diversions to help reduce disruption to our Colchester network - however, due to the nature of the event, there will be increased congestion in and around the area (traffic and crowds) as well as no definitive timings for the days events i.e. road closures could be lifted early or extended dependant on how long it takes race participants to complete sections of the race. Please take this into consideration when making travel plans.

Good luck to all Ford RideLondon Classique 2024 participants!

The annual Colchester 10K Race 2024 takes place on Sunday 12th May 2024 (between 10:00 and 11:00am). A few roads will be temporarily closed to traffic whilst the event takes place. 

The following journeys might be placed on diversion whilst the event is in progress*:

• Service S6 - departing Osborne Street at 09:55 to Shrub End.
• Service S6 - departing Shrub End at 10:14 to Osborne Street.
• Service S7 - departing Osborne Street at 10:25 to St Michaels.
• Service S7 - departing St Michaels at 09:45 and 10:45 to Osborne Street.

*Please note. the road closures could be ended early or extended. This is dependant on the length of time runners take to complete sections of the race. This will effect whether the S6 & S7 services remain on diversion.

The planned diversion for the S6 service:

- towards Shrub End - the S6 service will divert via Maldon Road, Shrub End Road and Boadicea Way before returning to normal line of route. 

- towards Colchester City Centre - the S6 service will divert via Boadicea Way, Shrub End Road, Maldon Road and Salisbury Avenue before returning to normal line of route.

The following bus stops will not be served (in both directions): Salisbury Avenue, Hamilton Road, Drury Arms, Oyster Place, Rainsborowe Road and Boadicea Way South.

The planned diversion for the S7 service:

- towards St Michaels - the S7 service will divert via Maldon Road, Shrub End Road and Boadicea Way before returning to normal line of route. 

- towards Colchester City Centre - normal line of route. However, there might be slight delays dependant on the length of time runners take to complete sections of the race.

The following bus stops will not be served (in both directions): Salisbury Avenue, Hamilton Road, Drury Arms, Oyster Place, Rainsborowe Road and Boadicea Way South.

Good luck to all Colchester 10K Race 2024 participants!

*Please note. this service update was amended at 12:00 02/04/2024

Reason for amendment: Unable to access Navigation Road - diversions revised.

A section of Springfield Road, Chelmsford will be closed to traffic from Tuesday 2nd April to Wednesday 26th June 2024 - Essex Highways is widening the junction. This is a partial road closure - north-bound direction only, between roundabout (for Tesco/Bond Street) and Navigation Road. Due to the location of the roadworks there will likely be delays to all traffic in and around the area.

The following bus services will be placed on diversion:

C8 & C11

towards Chelmsford Bus Station - normal line of route

towards Beaulieu Park - Services C8 & C11 will divert via Parkway, Army & Navy Roundabout, Chelmer Road and Sandford Road before returning to normal line of route on Springfield Road. Town Centre Tesco Store and Boswells Drive bus stop will not be served. The closest alternate bus stop, nearest Tesco, will be Chelmsford Prison. 

47

towards Chelmsford Bus Station - Service 47 will divert via Byron Road, Sandford Road and Springfield Road before returning to normal line of route on Victoria Road. The following bus stops will not be served: Brockley Road, Wharf Road, Town Centre Tesco Store and Boswells Drive. The closest alternate bus stops, nearest Tesco, will be on Victoria Road (Riverside Inn/Riverside Ice and Leisure).

towards Broomfield Hospital - will not serve Town Centre Tesco Store bus stop. The closest alternate bus stop, nearest Tesco, will be Boswells Drive. 

73

towards Chelmsford Bus Station - normal line of route

towards Maldon - Service 73 will divert via Parkway, Army & Navy Roundabout, Chelmer Road and Sandford Road before returning to normal line of route on Springfield Road. Town Centre Tesco Store and Boswells Drive bus stop will not be served. The closest alternate bus stop, nearest Tesco, will be Chelmsford Prison. 

We apologise for the disruption to your bus journey.