Work to improve the Tayfen Road junction in Bury St Edmunds will go ahead next year, Suffolk County Council has confirmed.

The authority says the work will improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians and manage traffic flows by replacing the Tayfen Road roundabout with traffic lights.

A toucan crossing will be installed on the Tayfen Road arm of the Northgate roundabout and the pavements on Tayfen Road, Station Hill, and Fornham Road are set to be widened.

A cycle link from Fornham Road – connecting to The Maltings cycle bridge – to Cannon Street will be created and the two-lane vehicular approaches to the junction on Compiegne Way and Tayfen Road will be extended, which the council says will allow for more cars on the stretch of road and better traffic flow at the junction.

Read which areas of Bury St Edmunds will benefit from £2.8m transport improvements during 2017-2018A four-week public consultation took place in relation to the planned work, and a total of 181 responses were received.

Out of the people responding, 77% agreed the route between the town centre and train station should be improved for pedestrians, and nearly 60% of people said they agreed with the Tayfen Road proposals.

The work will be the third phase of a £2.8million project to make travelling in Bury St Edmunds easier for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

The first phase – removing the double roundabout at Cullum Road/Parkway – was completed on August 25, while work on the second phase of the project continues at the Spread Eagle junction and is expected to be finished by February 24.

Councillor Jane Storey, Suffolk County Council’s deputy leader, said: “Responses to the questionnaire indicate that these works have the potential to encourage drivers to leave the car at home and walk or cycle to and from, and in and around, Bury St Edmunds.

“Many people believe the facilities for walking and cycling in the area could be improved and we want to see that changed.

“Based on the responses we received, we will be undertaking the works as proposed – but where possible we will look to see how we can reflect some of the comments made by those who took part in the consultation and make adjustments to the work done.”