Motorists advised to plan ahead as lane closures begin A14 ahead of major reconstruction work

National Highways is encouraging motorists who travel in and around Suffolk to plan ahead and leave extra time for their journey as temporary lane closures will be put in place this week on the A14.

Main construction on the A14 junction 47a Haughley to 49 Tothill reconstruction scheme will begin mid-April. Ahead of that, daytime lane closures are being put in place to allow National Highways to complete preparation work and to install the contraflow roadworks safely.

A contraflow is when the road is shut in one direction and traffic is moved over to drive on the opposite side of the road to share the remaining carriageway.

Lane closures will be in place seven days a week, 24 hours a day between the following dates:

• Eastbound - from Friday 24 March
• Westbound - from Tuesday 28 March

Following this, the contraflow will be fully installed on the westbound carriageway between J47a Haughley and J49 Tothill by Tuesday 18 April and will be in place for the approximately six months. Once work is complete on the westbound carriageway, the contraflow will be moved over to the eastbound carriageway, with the scheme set to complete in summer 2024.

The speed limit through the contraflow will be temporarily reduced to 50mph for the safety of workers and all road users.

The £37m scheme will see National Highways completely remove the concrete road surface and its foundations, before rebuilding the road with recycled material and a new asphalt road surface.    

As well as reconstructing the road, the project will also see replacement kerbs installed, safety barriers replaced, new road markings and new reflective road studs (cat's eyes).  

Simon Amor, National Highways Head of Scheme Delivery, said: "We understand that living, working, or travelling in and around Suffolk while this major construction project takes place might not be easy, and we will do all we can to minimise disruption. While these lane closures are in place, we recommend motorists give themselves an extra XX to complete their journeys.

"We also ask road users not to 'rat run' on smaller, local roads, as this can impact villages and local communities. These roads aren't suitable for the traffic that usually travels on the A14, and can lead to more congestion, and increase the risk of accidents for both motorists and pedestrians."

Motorists are also warned that weekday overnight closures are in place on the A14 between Bury St. Edmunds and Ipswich to install the contraflow system and average speed cameras, on the following dates:

Date of overnight closures 8pmto 6am each night	Location of overnight road closures
Monday 20 until Friday 24 March	A14 eastbound
Monday 27 March until Friday 31 March	A14 westbound
Monday 3 April until Wednesday 5 April	A14 westbound
Tuesday 11 April until Friday 14 April	A14 westbound
Monday 17 April	A14 eastbound

Eastbound traffic will be diverted to exit the A14 at junction 43, before taking the A143 towards Diss and then the A140 towards Ipswich to re-join the A14 at J51. Westbound traffic will follow this route in reverse.

Local traffic will still be able to access the A14 westbound at junction 47 and the A14 eastbound at junction 49.

National Highways will be hosting two public information events to share further details about the upcoming scheme.

Simon Amor added: "We are encouraging motorists, local residents and businesses to come to one of our upcoming events to meet the team, learn more about the project, and ask any questions they have."

The National Highways team will be at:

• Thursday 30 March: 2.30pm to 7.30pm

Stowmarket Leisure Centre, Gainsborough Road, Stowmarket IP14 1LH

• Friday 31 March: 11am to 4pm

The Wesley coffee Shop, meeting room, School Road, Elmswell IP30 9EE

The scheme on the A14 is part of National Highways nationwide drive to revitalise old concrete roads across the country.   Concrete roads make up almost 400 miles (4%) of England's motorway and major A-road network. Mostly found along the eastern side of the country, around half of the old-style concrete roads in the region will either have repairs or be replaced, including stretches on the A11, A14, A12, A120 and M11.    

For more information can be found on the A14 Haughley (junction 47a) and Tothill (junction 49) concrete road reconstruction scheme webpage.

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England's motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England'smotorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:

Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiries
Option 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)

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