MOTORISTS are facing weeks of delays on one of the region's busiest trunk roads as the Highways Agency undertakes resurfacing work.The agency plans to carry out the work on the Haughley bends stretch of the A14 near Stowmarket, for up to three weeks during which there will be speed restrictions, a contraflow system, lane closure and diversion routes in place.

MOTORISTS are facing weeks of delays on one of the region's busiest trunk roads as the Highways Agency undertakes resurfacing work.

The agency plans to carry out the work on the Haughley bends stretch of the A14 near Stowmarket, for up to three weeks during which there will be speed restrictions, a contraflow system, lane closure and diversion routes in place.

The Haughley bends has been the scene of a string of serious and fatal accidents in recent years. It is now an accident reduction zone, with a 50mph speed limit enforced by fixed speed cameras.

As part of routine maintenance work the agency plans to close the westbound carriageway of the A14 in the area, with traffic using a contraflow on the eastbound carriageway; to close the westbound slip road from the A14/A1308 and the westbound slip road from the A14/A1120 Stowmarket Interchange.

Gaps in the central reservation will also be shut, as will all lay-bys next to either carriageway between its junctions with the A14/A1120 Stowmarket Interchange and the Elmswell Interchange.

There will be a 40mph speed limit in force on the A14 on carriageways in both directions in the Haughley area. Restrictions on the road will be in operation at different times and diversion routes will be operation, which the agency says will be clearly signposted.

A spokeswoman for the agency said: “The temporary mandatory speed restriction, contraflow, closures, width restriction and diversion routes will be clearly indicated by traffic signs throughout the works.

“The work is part of our routine maintenance programme and does not include the entire stretch of the Haughley bends.

“We would ask motorists to drive even more carefully through this stretch of road while the road works are being carried out and apologise to motorists for the delays they will experience while this maintenance work is undertaken.''

Work is scheduled to start during next month.