PARTS of the A14 in Ipswich are due to be closed from today when major safety work to a bridge is carried out.

Tom Potter

PARTS of the A14 in Ipswich are due to be closed from today when major safety work to a bridge is carried out.

Overnight and weekend work is scheduled for the next three months to the A14 Bramford Road bridge which will see lane closures, diversions and contraflow systems put in place.

Highways bosses have warned motorists that delays are likely during the weekend work and have called on drivers to be patient.

A 50mph speed limit will be in place during the entire works and will be maintained for the safety of the workforce and travelling public.

The work, which promises to reduce vibration noise caused by traffic, is to take place overnight from 8pm to 6am Mondays to Fridays and, for six weekends from Saturday, January 17, will continue between 6pm on Saturdays and 6am on Mondays.

Costing �750,000, the scheme will replace the joints and repair the supporting walls of the bridge, between Junction 53 and 54 of the A14, near Ipswich, and is expected to be finished in March.

The fractured ballast walls will be excavated, new reinforced concrete walls constructed and bridge joints replaced.

During the overnight work throughout the week lanes will be closed on the Stowmarket and Felixstowe-bound carriageways.

During the weekend work a contraflow will be set up on the Felixstowe-bound carriageway.

The A14 Sproughton Interchange (Junction 54) Stowmarket-bound on-slip will be closed while the contraflow is in operation. Traffic will be diverted via the Copdock Interchange (Junction 55).

Paul Undrell, Highways Agency regional construction manager, said: “This essential work to repair the supporting walls of the A14 Bramford Road Bridge will be carried out as efficiently as possible.

“However, some delays are expected during the weekend working and we hope the travelling public will be patient during this time.”