The scheme will see upgrades to the key roundabouts from the A14 at Seven Hills, east of Ipswich, north to the A1152 at Woods Lane, and a new dual carriageway section replacing the existing single carriageway bottleneck at Seckford Hall between the B1438 and B1079.
It will also deliver improvements to bus links and walking and cycling connections to reduce the issue of severance for communities on either side of the A12 – for example, where the A12 separates houses from local employment and retail areas.
The Department for Transport has committed to funding up to £54million of the scheme’s estimated £64million total cost. The remainder of the cost will be funded by local development contributions, including from Sizewell C and Brightwell Lakes.
Cllr Richard Smith MVO, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Transport Strategy and Waste, said:
“Suffolk County Council has fought long and hard for this scheme, so I am pleased that the government has announced its commitment to fund most of the cost of the project. These improvements will future-proof the A12 and deliver major benefits to local communities and to people travelling around Suffolk, the road being a link between our two largest towns, Ipswich and Lowestoft.
“Also, it is a critical bottleneck in accessing the East Suffolk coast, which is the location of several Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), including Sizewell C. This funding will allow us to meet the timescales of Sizewell C and minimise congestion and network disruption during its construction.
“I would like to thank the government for recognising the importance of this scheme, the positive impacts of which will be far-reaching.”
Andrew Summers, Chief Executive of Transport East, said:
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to provide funding for the A12 improvements, which was long agreed by the Transport East partnership as a regional priority. Following continuous advice and advocacy to government on the region’s major road priorities, we’re delighted to see this scheme come to fruition.
“The improvements will provide a more reliable journey for people and goods along one of the region’s most important roads, boosting business and improving access to the planned Sizewell C development. We also welcome the scheme’s ambitions to support better bus, cycling and walking provision, providing communities with a choice of connections to services they need.”
