THE problems with the A14 came to an eye-watering head on October 3 last year.

During the morning rush hour a lorry containing onions overturned near the Orwell Bridge, closing one carriageway completely and forcing the closure of one lane in the other direction.

It took police and Highways Agency staff eight hours to clear the road – although no one was seriously hurt in the accident.

However within 18 minutes of the reopening of the road, another accident at the Seven Hills junction closed the A14 for a second time.

This time two drivers were trapped, however once they were freed the road took many hours to clear.

It was not until the following morning that the A14 was reopened to traffic.

During the closures traffic was diverted through the heart of Ipswich, causing major congestion around the town centre – the star of work on the Travel Ipswich Scheme did not help traffic flow.

Immediately after the problems, MPs and councillors called for more urgency to be shown by the police and Highways Agency officials after future accidents – and that has resulted in next Monday’s meeting.