Ipswich Hospital road closure to last from May 22 for around four months

A hospital trust has asked patients and visitors to ‘bear with us’ when it temporarily closes a road later this month as it prepares for the opening of new facilities.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust said the loop road at the south end of the Ipswich Hospital site will be shut from May 22, with the closure due to last until September.

The trust says the closure will allow for important roadworks ready for the opening of a new multi-million-pound accident and emergency (A&E) department, urgent treatment centre and an operating theatre hub.

Teams will be improving the road and making it safe for ambulances to reach the new A&E. There will also be improvements for buses and pedestrians using the area.

During the closure:

-Patients and visitors will no longer be able to use the drop-off zone directly outside A&E/the Garrett Anderson Centre;

-A new drop-off/pick up zone will be available nearby, in car park D, where there’s a zebra crossing to reach A&E/the Garrett Anderson Centre and the main entrance (south);

-Buses visiting the south of the site will continue to stop at the bus stops on Heath Road;

-Pedestrians will no longer be able to use the crossings on the loop road, nor the island in the middle of the loop road.

The trust also said pedestrian access would be improved ready for the road closure and a new zebra crossing is opening between car parks D and F.

A new pedestrian walkway will also open this summer to help people get from car park F/outpatients to the main entrance (south).

The trust said: “We apologise for the inconvenience and thank everyone for their patience while we build a better hospital. The A&E, Urgent Treatment Centre and operating theatre hub are due to open next year.”