A12 upgrade plan: Strong views on traffic lights

Jim Maltby attended the first public meeting about A12 improvements

There are "too many traffic lights" in the plans to upgrade a major road, according to some residents.

A scheme was put forward to upgrade the A12 which links the county's two biggest towns, Lowestoft and Ipswich.

The plan would also see improvements to the A14 Seven Hills junction and seven out of the eight roundabouts through to A1152 Woods Lane, in Melton.

The first public exhibition of the proposals was held in Woodbridge on Thursday where residents expressed their thoughts on the plans.

'Maximise flow'

Suffolk County Council said the wok would "improve conditions for all road users"

Steph and Jim Maltby live in Wickham Market and went to see the first exhibition at Woodridge Community Hall.

Mrs Maltby said she "hoped" her drive from the Seven Hills junction to Wickham Market would see an improvement.

However with "the considerable amount of traffic lights that they're putting in" she thought this might not happen.

The couple had originally moved to Wickham Market as they came from an area where with "too many traffic lights" where "it didn't work effectively", according to Mrs Maltby.

Mr Maltby said he was concerned that if the lights were not "state of the art" with the "algorithms to maximise flow", then their car journeys would be affected.

He said he had been reassured at the exhibition that the lights did use "fancy algorithms" and he hoped the developers were "true to their word".

'Necessary investment'

Phillip Ainsworth believed the scheme could help improve business operations along the route

Phillip Ainsworth, chief executive of Suffolk Agricultural Association, based at Trinity Park in Ipswich, said he believed the scheme would help support businesses in the area with their operations.

"Clearly there's got to be something done to recognise the increase in particularly larger traffic coming out of Felixstowe for Sizewell C and other major projects going on at the moment," he told the BBC.

He added that the improvements could specifically help support events at Trinity Park like the annual Suffolk show.

"If there's a way to better regulate traffic flow and traffic lights might well help with that, and with more lanes available, it's got to help with getting in and out of the show in particular," he said.

"It's not that bad in terms of how long it takes you to get in and out at the moment but recognising there's going to be a lot more additional traffic with all the housing and business developments going on, you can see why strategically this is quite an important and necessary investment."

'Life in your hands'

Jim Hardwicke was in support of the additional improvements to walkways and cycle crossings included in the plans

As well as the changes to the junctions along the A12, there would also be a new bus route, along Portal Avenue linking the A12 to the A1214 in North Martlesham, under the plans.

New shared paths and crossings for pedestrians and cyclist would be added and an overbridge at Martlesham Heath would be expanded.

A new dual carriageway was also being suggested at Seckford Hall, near Woodbridge, between the B1438 and B1079.

Jim Hardwicke lives near this planned new road in Woodbridge and was "not in favour of widening any roads and wants to see them reduced".

He does however support improved crossing for walking and cycling.

Mr Hardwicke said you had to "take your life in your hands" when attempting to cross the A12 at the B1097 roundabout in the area.

'Greater access'

A number of public meetings have been planned where residents can find out more

The scheme is estimated to cost £63.6m with £5m coming from "third parties".

The government allocated £54m in funding for it last year.

Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for transport strategy, planning and waste, said the improvements would help ease congestion.

"These improvements will provide greater access to the east coast, an area with several Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) including Sizewell C, easing congestion and network disruption during its construction," he said.

"I encourage residents to look at the plans, read up on the benefits and let us know their thoughts."

'Not the answer'

The county council said it was dedicated to enhancing local infrastructure

Sandy Martin, a county councillor and deputy leader of the Labour Group, said he was not "convinced" the county council took "air pollution seriously enough".

"We need to promote sustainable transport policies which do not pollute the community around us," he said.

"The more roads you build the more traffic you get on the roads - we need to invest more in public transport - I don’t want to encourage congestions but building new roads to deal with congestion is not the answer."

A public consultation on the plans is open until 29 October.