A TRUCK which has rolled onto its side at the Port of Felixstowe caused problems for motorists.

Traffic faced disruption after a lorry rolled over outside one of the Port of Felixstowe’s busy entrances.

The truck went onto its side in Walton Avenue near Dock Gate Two just after noon – causing more than three hours of diversions as port police dealt with the situation and tried to keep traffic moving.

The 67-year-old driver of the red Mercedes lorry suffered minor cuts and bruises.

At first it was thought the articulated lorry was carrying hazardous chemicals and port fire, ambulance and police officials attended the scene, but this was quickly dispelled and its cargo was found to be an empty oil carrier.

There was some diesel spilled onto the road from the vehicle’s stricken cab and council officials attended to spread sand on the road.

Some lorries used Dock Gate One as preparations were made to right the truck, with it being lifted onto its wheels by about 3.30pm and traffic returning to normal soon after.

Head of corporate affairs for Hutchison Ports UK, owners of the Port of Felixstowe, Paul Davey said there had been no previous problems with the Dock Gate Two roundabout, a large junction at the bottom of Fagbury Road, Walton and Trinity Avenues.

“It is not an accident blackspot, so I am not sure why a lorry would have gone over there,” he said.

In the past there have been a few lorries suffer accidents at Dock Gate One, but most of the problems have been at dock spur on the A14 where there have been a large number of roll-overs and safety work has included installing flash lights and non-slip surfacing.

Investigators have found there have been a number of reasons for the crashes, including poor loading of the vehicles, speeding, driver error, and the road design, and sometimes a combination of factors.