IPSWICH was struck by commuter chaos today after a town road was closed as part of a �2.5million invest to improve the electricity network in Ipswich.

IPSWICH: The town was struck by commuter chaos today after a town road was closed as part of a �2.5million invest to improve the electricity network in Ipswich.

Grafton Way in Ipswich was closed on Friday by EDF Energy Networks, as a project to upgrade two underground cable circuits got underway.

The energy firm has now started the works to upgrade the cables which run from West End Road to the Ipswich skate park at Bridge Street.

The excavation work is set to run through until March 26 - with the whole project due to be completed by July.

However, the westbound carriageway of Grafton Way will only be closed until the end of February.

The two existing 132,000-volt cables are also being removed from land adjacent to Grafton Way where future development is proposed.

These works should not affect power supplies to customers in the area.

EDF Energy Networks project manager Phillip Harvey said: “This is essential work which will improve the electricity network.

“We are very mindful of the fact that our work may cause short-term inconvenience to people and we are determined to keep that to a minimum. In the long-term, the new modern cabling which we are installing will help ensure that our customers in this area will continue to benefit from a highly reliable power supply.”