Drivers heading towards Tilbury Port, Thurrock Park Way or local destinations from the A13 should prepare for a different southbound route this evening. National Highways lists a weeknight closure of the A1089 southbound between the A13 and the Asda Roundabout from Monday 10 August to Friday 4 September 2026. The published working hours are 8pm to 4am, so tonight is the first scheduled closure in this phase.
Where the closure applies
The affected section carries traffic from the A13 towards Tilbury. When the A1089 southbound is closed, National Highways says drivers will be diverted from the A13 Orsett Cock Roundabout by Stanford Road westbound, Wood View eastbound, Old Dock Approach Road southbound, Marshfoot Road eastbound, Chadwell Hill northbound, Linford Road eastbound, Turnpike Lane, Gun Hill southbound and Windrush Way westbound.
A temporary one-way system is also due to operate overnight in a counter-clockwise direction on Coopers Shaw Road, Church Road, Blue Anchor Lane, Muckingford Road, Turnpike Lane and Gun Hill. Traffic leaving Rectory Road is advised to turn left onto Gun Hill or Blue Anchor Lane. These local-road arrangements make it especially important to follow temporary signs and traffic marshals rather than choosing a satnav shortcut.
Plan before the 8pm start
Check the National Highways daily closures page and live travel updates again shortly before departure because planned works can change at short notice. If your journey can be completed before 8pm, allow normal Monday traffic time rather than aiming to reach the closure point at the last minute. If you will travel during the works, add a realistic buffer and share an updated arrival time with anyone expecting you.
Commercial and shift workers should confirm site access arrangements with their employer or destination. Keep delivery references, gate instructions and a contact number accessible without handling the phone while driving. If your navigation app conflicts with a signed diversion, use the official signs. Temporary one-way controls are designed around the work area and may not appear immediately in every app.
Prepare the car for a longer local diversion
Before setting off, check fuel or battery range, tyres, exterior lights, washer fluid and the windscreen. Evening diversions add junctions, low-speed sections and more stopping than the direct route, so a charged phone and working lights matter. Secure water, medication, a torch and charging cable where they will not roll around the cabin.
Keep a high-visibility vest inside the passenger area so it can be put on before leaving the car if it is safe to do so. A warning triangle belongs in a prepared kit, but never place one on a motorway. If your vehicle develops a problem, move to a safe location when possible, switch on hazard lights, follow official breakdown guidance and contact the emergency services if anyone is in immediate danger.
A compact roadside kit for regular journeys
The JUFO 3-in-1 Roadside Breakdown Kit (£17.95) combines a high-visibility vest, warning triangle and compact 2-in-1 window breaker with seatbelt cutter. Secure the escape tool within reach of the driver, not loose in the boot, and keep the vest accessible. The kit complements breakdown cover, a charged power bank and your destination contacts; it does not replace professional assistance.
Use the diversion calmly
Expect more local turns than on the normal A1089 approach. Reduce speed for temporary signs, leave a sensible following distance and watch for residents, cyclists and pedestrians on the diversion roads. Do not stop to reprogramme navigation in a live lane; use a safe parking place if you need to review the route. When the closure period ends at 4am, remain alert for crews removing traffic management.
Official source: National Highways — South East maintenance schemes. Details checked on 10 August 2026; closures and access arrangements may change at short notice.
