MOTORISTS look set to face further snarl ups on the A14 after a section of the road started slumping alarmingly.

MOTORISTS look set to face further snarl ups on the A14 after a section of the road started slumping alarmingly.

There has been a two metre wide collapse on the westbound carriageway of the recently upgraded section, close to the former Rookery Crossroads at Rougham, near Bury St Edmunds. It is the second time the area has been blighted by subsidence.

The road, which was finished in March 2006, was first affected by subsidence in October the same year.

It was completed £2million over budget but campaigners who had battled for improvements to the notorious stretch welcomed the safety measures.

A Highways Agency spokesperson said: “A small area of subsidence has occurred on the A14 at the Rookery Crossroads. We are carrying out repairs and investigating the cause of the subsidence.

“For the safety of road users and our workforce a temporary 50mph speed restriction has been put in place.”

She explained that unlike the earlier subsidence the latest problem fell outside the defect guarantee period offered by the constructor but the agency was in discussion with engineers to find a cause.

Jim Richardson, an A14 commuter, said he was frustrated with further delays on the road: “I use the stretch to get to Bury every day and there is quite a dip. There always seems to be something with this new bit of road.”

Another driver, Hannah Thompson, from Bury, said the slump might cause problems for cars with lowered suspension.

Frank Heeps, a van driver from Bury, claimed the hole which developed as a result of the subsidence was dangerous and little had yet been done to remedy the situation.

However he said he was pleased by Highways Agency assurances yesterday that the matter was in hand.

Two years ago David Ruffley MP led a campaign to sort out the earlier instance of subsidence and last night said he would be investigating and writing to the Highways Agency. Back then, subsidence repair work took a week and the road completely closed over one weekend.