WORK to permanently solve flooding issues on a section of the A14 will finally get underway in the New Year.

Russell Claydon

WORK to permanently solve flooding issues on a section of the A14 will finally get underway in the New Year.

Problems with subsidence have been plaguing motorists at the upgraded Rookery Crossroads section at Rougham, near Bury St Edmunds since it reopened in 2006.

Remedial work to stop the road from sinking after a large slump appeared in the carriageway will take place in January, Highways officials have confirmed.

But road chiefs said a build-up of surface water which closed a lane of the notorious road on Sunday was not connected to the existing problems - despite being on the opposite side of the road.

A crushed drainage pipe has been given as the cause of the problems on the eastbound carriageway at the weekend.

The lane was reopened again on Monday after the water cleared, but campaigners are now hoping the situation on the westbound carriageway will finally be resolved as well.

Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley, who has been in close contact with the Highways Agency over the issue, has called for road chiefs to keep true to their word on the January work.

He said: “The remedial work will be done in January over one weekend and I will hold them to that.”

Temporary work was carried out in December last year after it was discovered the subsidence was caused by a drainage crossing trench below the carriageway, which had a 15cm deep void in it.

Grout was pumped into the voids under the carriageway to stabilise the situation and slow down any further sinking until the permanent repairs are completed.

The stretch, which was finished in March 2006, was first affected by subsidence in October that year. The Rougham section, which is used by 40,000 people a day, was completed �2million over budget, but campaigners who had battled for improvements welcomed the safety measures introduced.

Then last year further subsidence was reported in the centre of the westbound carriageway.