An announcement that work will start this month to improve a major route in and out of Haverhill has been welcomed by councils.

Work to improve safety and reduce congestion on the A1307 in Cambridgeshire marks the beginning of a £14million package of works along the route to be completed by the end of 2020.

West Suffolk councils says the well-used route is vital for the economy and businesses in the area.

Phase one of the Cambridge South East Transport Scheme works to improve road safety and walking, cycling and public transport journeys along the A1307 will begin in January.

The Greater Cambridge Partnership said the first lane of the eastbound dual carriageway near Linton will be hatched off and a new left turn will be created to enable vehicles to turn left safely into Dalehead Foods, which will also give greater visibility to vehicles leaving the site.

Work will soon follow on upgrading the traffic signals at Linton Village College to increase capacity, installing additional cycle lockers and storage at Babraham Park and Ride, and creating an eastbound bus lane approaching Linton.

Susan Glossop, cabinet member for planning and growth at St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said: “We welcome the announcement of these improvements for the A1307 which is a major arterial route for Haverhill, which like the rest of West Suffolk, is part of the Cambridge sub-region.

“This road is well used and important for the local economy and businesses. The work being done by the Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to improve safety and reduce congestion will help alleviate issues in the short and long term.

“We work closely with our partners who we share a common economic area with and together lobby for transport improvements, not just on the A1307 but in West Suffolk as a whole.

“The new West Suffolk Council will increase our ability to lobby hard and have an even louder voice. I look forward to seeing the improvements for the A1307 and work on the Metro coming forward for those who are often held up on this congested road.”