Project Update – January 2026

There has been good progress on the Sizewell C project in the first month of 2026.   

We will continue to keep you informed throughout the year via our works tracker which will be continuously updated. We will be making further improvements throughout the year including overlaying causeway one network traffic management website with the works tracker to ensure consistency and live traffic management updates.  To sign up for email and / or SMS updates, please create an account on the site via this link: Sizewell C Works Tracker - Track SZC Projects & Get Alerts for New Activities 

A key focus of the project in the first half on 2026 is getting Friday Street and Yoxford roundabouts linked to the A12 and open to the road network, which we expect to be in late Spring.  This will require necessary traffic management (two-way traffic lights and cones) in place as the roundabouts are prepared to be connected to the A12 and weekend closures of the A12, nighttime road closure and weekend closures of the road.   

As part of this, the A12 will be closed to the south of the A1094 at Friday Street for a full weekend closure from 8pm on 30 January to 5am on 2 February 2026 the works involve drainage and preparing the A12 to heading towards Saxmundham.   The diversion route is A12, A146, A143, A140 and A14 www.one.causeway.com 

 Both the Southern Park and Ride (Wickham Market) and Northern Park and Ride (Darsham) will be opening in phases with full openings due in the late summer.  The roundabout that links the A12 to the Darsham Park and Ride is being linked to the A12 in phases. The bottom of the roundabout will be linked to the A12 at the end of February and will be fully operational by the end of March.  The access road to the Park and Ride at Wickham Market is due to open in February.  

Main Site   

From Monday 16th February, works along Sizewell beach will start to construct the temporary Main Bulk Import Facility (MBIF jetty) and installation of Temporary Marine Outfall pipeline, which will eject clean surface water from the main site. This will require footpath restrictions, which will be lifted over the weekends (1700 Friday – 1700 Sunday). The works are due to be completed on the beach at end of March, with works continuing out to sea until April.  

 The first part of the bridge across the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), that links the Temporary Construction Area (TCA) to the Main Construction Area (MCA) has been successfully installed. Once two more bridges are constructed, we will be able to streamline vehicle movement between our sites and will reduce traffic in the local road network.    

Temporary Construction Area (TCA)  

TCA Earthworks progressed well through 2025, with 2.5million m3 of cut/fill complete. The bulk of the site is now to design level.  The green rail route continues to be built from Buckleswood Road to the TCA, in February rail tracks will be laid across the B1122 (Abbey Road), the level crossing will be constructed later in the year.   

Preparation for the construction of Northern Plaza has begun. The Plaza is located to the east of Abbey Road and comprises a network of roads and durable surfaces designed to support TCA access. Construction will begin during quarter two of 2026 with completion expected in early 2027.   The Plaza will include; External Bus interchange, providing efficient connectivity for regional transportation.  Internal bus interchange, optimising flow of buses servicing the site a dedicated Bus parking area; Car Park; Parking for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and security access control.  Once open, the plaza will be the main access point to the Sizewell C construction sites.  

Ancillary Construction Area (ACA) 

The trainline and rail head have been fully installed, and the line has been connected to the Leiston branch line.  We expect engineering trains to be running from the end of February.  

We are aware of the parking pressures at the ACA and the backfill on King Georges Avenue.  We have created extra space at the ACA and the Park and Rides are opening in phases. Sizewell C community safety officers are working with the local police, patrolling the road and advising Sizewell C workers on appropriate parking arrangements, internal communications are also being sent to all Sizewell C workers and contractors.  

Workforce   

The Orwell Logistics Park is also now fully open with 350 office-based workers now working from the site.  The aim of having a dispersed workforce is to ensure that we reduce the pressure to the Leiston area and that we offer flexibility to our workers on location.  Further works space is being planned at this location.  

 The Sizewell C planning team will shortly be submitting a planning application for the development of a bus depot in Ipswich.  The site is adjacent to the Euro Retail Park, which we are using to park our current bus fleet.  The development of the site will include, maintenance and cleaning of our electric and hydrogen bus fleet.  The site will host up to 160 buses, although most of the time the buses will be in operation across the region.   

We are increasing the buses from this location, and we will soon take delivery of five new electric buses to our fleet as the Park and Rides start to become operational.  

Associated Developments progress   

Park and Rides: Partial operation of both Park and Rides, with 180 spaces at the Northern Park and Ride (NPR) and the first phase of the Southern Park and Ride (SPR) opening in February 2026. From week commencing 9 February, traffic will start to use the western arm of the NPR roundabout, full use of the roundabout will start in March, Willow March Lane will open shortly after once remedial works have been carried out.    

We are working to open a temporary Freight Management Facility at the Northern Park and Ride, this will enable HGVs to check in before heading to site and take rest of tachograph breaks (legal requirements for HGV drivers to have breaks to ensure safety Drivers’ hours and tachographs: goods vehicles - Guidance - GOV.UK).  This will reduce the use of laybys by HGV drivers on the A12 and B1122.   

 Roundabouts: Friday Street and Yoxford roundabouts will be open to traffic early spring. This requires weekend closures of A12 to link roundabout to the A12 and other connecting roads. The next closure of the A12 will be 30 January.  We will have traffic management in place and advisory signs of alternative routes.    

Roads:  The Two Village Bypass and Sizewell Link Road are preparing to begin earth works in Spring. Vegetation clearance, and Archology have been completed. We have made some interesting discoveries during this time, most recently ancient Anglo Saxon grave site: Nationally significant Anglo-Saxon burial ground found at Sizewell C site - Sizewell C 

Works in and around Leiston  

We are working hard to get the roads in and around Leiston complete.  Abbey Road (B1122) route has been reinstated, with the realigned Lovers Lane now open.  Further closures of the road network will be required as we construct the level crossing across Abbey Road and continue to make improvements to the temporary accesses to the Temporary Construction Area (TCA), Leiston Drain including sheet piling that will reinforce Lovers Lane at the Leiston Recycling plant.  Alongside this, the diversion of Bridleway 19 continues to be built.  

In the middle of February work on the level crossing in Leiston will require a daytime road closure as a mobile crane is required to lift and install trackside power cabinets that will provide power the Leiston line (this is on the side of line by the industrial estate). Further details will be communicated to residents nearer the time and our works tracker will be updated.    

Further utilities work around the Leiston Level crossing are also required from early February, including diverting and upgrading cadent gas pipes and for Essex and Suffolk water. This will require traffic management (two-way lights) while these works are implemented.