Council could spend £1.35m on problem junction plan

A council will discuss spending up to £1.35m on a business case which would outline the benefits of improving a problem road junction.

Suffolk County Council's cabinet will meet on 16 June to discuss funding the A140 Major Road Network Scheme at Earl Stonham.

If approved, the scheme would help simplify the staggered junction with the A1120, where there is often heavy congestion.

The total cost of the project has been estimated to be £6.46m, inclusive of the £1.35m being sought for the business case.

The A140 is the main route from the A14 near Needham Market up to Norwich.

Council documents state the scheme could either realign the eastern arm of the A1120 or a potential new link road through the countryside to move traffic away from people's homes.

Land for this could be acquired through the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders if agreements cannot be made with landowners, the documents said.

The junction with the A140 is often congested at peak times, leading to increased travel times, which the council said was a "cost to local residents and the local economy".

It added that the congestion increased emissions, affecting local air quality for residents.

The government has already considered an outline case for the project, which passed its review successfully.

If given the go-ahead, up to 85% of funding to develop the project could be provided by the Department for Transport, with the rest locally funded.

The authority could fund the rest using the Local Transport Grant or potentially the Community Infrastructure Levy, council documents said.

It could be ready to submit the full business case later in this financial year, and if funding is secured for the scheme, construction could start in the summer of 2028 and be open to the public in spring 2029, the documents stated.

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