A140 will close as three abnormal loads travel from Ipswich to Eye in large operation
Three vehicles carrying abnormal loads will travel across Suffolk in the largest combined effort for the county’s highways team to date.
Suffolk Highways has announced its plans to move the vehicles, which are 80m and weigh approximately 500 to 600 tonnes each, from Ipswich Docks to Eye Airfield Progress Power Station.
The movements are Sunday, October 8, Sunday, October 15 and Sunday, October 22 with the vehicles departing at 6.30am each morning and will see measures in place including road closures on A140 and parking restrictions.
Full details can be found below.
The operation will support Drax Group, a renewable energy company, with the delivery of a 12m generator, a 10m turbine and a 10m transformer.
Cllr Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Ipswich, Operational Highways and Flooding, said: “A great deal of careful planning and joint working goes into an operation such as this one.
“I am confident that those involved will ensure the safe and successful delivery of parts on behalf of Drax Group.
“I want to thank communities that may be affected by this move for their understanding and cooperation.”
Suffolk Highways has worked with different organisations to arrange the movements including Allelys, National Highways, Suffolk Police as well as J McCann and Swarco which provides Suffolk with street lighting and traffic signals.
Live updates will be provided while the huge structures are in transit on the Twitter account @Suff_highways.
A road closure of the A140 will be in place while the load moves to Eye Airfield and a temporary overbridge will be at Brockford to protect the existing roads.
The closure could be in place for several hours from midday and other restrictions will be in place such as parking and weight limit restrictions, the suspension of any double yellow lines along the route and the closure of B1075 Tomline Road, Ipswich and the St Matthews Street, Ipswich subway.
Please see below for full details of roads affected during the operation.
Suspension of double yellow lines:
B1458 Cliff Road, Ipswich (from Toller Road to Ship Launch Road)
B1458 Duke Street, Ipswich (from John Street to A1214)
A1156 Fore Hamlet, Ipswich
A1156 Bishops Hill, Ipswich
A1156 Felixstowe Road, Ipswich (from Bishops Hill to Derby Road)
B1075 Tomline Road, Ipswich
B1075 Foxhall Road, Ipswich (from Tomline Road to Newton Road and from Ruskin Road junction to Grove Lane, Ipswich)
B1075 Grove Lane, Ipswich
A1156 St Helens Street, Ipswich (from Grove Lane junction for 60 metres west and from Regent Street to St Margarets Street, Ipswich)
A1156 St Margarets Street, Ipswich
A1156 Crown Street, Ipswich
A1156 St Matthews Street, Ipswich
A1156 Norwich Road, Ipswich (St Matthews Street to Cumberland Street, Ipswich, from Wellington Street for a further 30 metres northbound and from Anglesea Road to Old Norwich Road, Ipswich)
U4478 Old Norwich Road, Ipswich (from Norwich Road to 20 metres north of Tooks Road, Ipswich)
U4736 Old Ipswich Road, Claydon (from Old Paper Mill Lane to Ipswich Road, Claydon)
C496 Ipswich Road, Claydon - From junction with Old Ipswich Road to Norwich Road, Claydon
Temporary parking restrictions (with no exceptions):
B1458 Cliff Road, Ipswich
B1458 Duke Street, Ipswich
A1156 Fore Hamlet, Ipswich
A1156 Bishops Hill, Ipswich
A1156 Felixstowe Road, Ipswich (from Bishops Hill to Derby Road)
Derby Road, Ipswich (from Felixstowe Road to 40 metres south of Tomline Road junction)
B1075 Tomline Road, Ipswich
B1075 Foxhall Road, Ipswich
B1075 Grove Lane, Ipswich
A1156 St Helens Street, Ipswich
A1156 St Margarets Street, Ipswich
A1156 Crown Street, Ipswich
A1156 St Matthews Street, Ipswich
A1156 Norwich Road, Ipswich
U4478 Old Norwich Road, Ipswich
U4736 Old Norwich Road, Whitton
U4736 Old Ipswich Road, Claydon
C496 Ipswich Road, Claydon – From junction with Old Ipswich Road to Norwich Road, Claydon
C492 Norwich Road, Claydon
C492 Norwich Road, Barham
C492 Old Norwich Road, Coddenham
Suspension of overnight 7.5t Weight Restriction
A1156 Fore Hamlet, Ipswich
A1156 Bishops Hill, Ipswich
A1156 Felixstowe Road, Ipswich (from Bishops Hill to Derby Road)
A1156 Norwich Road, Ipswich (from A1214 to Bury Road, Ipswich)
Suspension of 7.5t weight restrictions
C496 Ipswich Road, Claydon
C492 Norwich Road, Claydon
C492 Norwich Road, Barham (from Norwich Road, Claydon to Church Lane, Barham)
Road closures
A140
A140 Norwich Road, Coddenham (from A14 roundabout to Norwich Road, Creeting St Mary)
A140 Norwich Road, Creeting St Mary
A140 Norwich Road, Earl Stonham
A140 Angel Hill, Earl Stonham
A140 Norwich Road, Stonham Aspal
A140 Pains Hill, Stonham Parva
A140 Turnpike, Stonham Parva
A140 Norwich Road, Stonham Parva
A140 Norwich Road, Mendlesham
A140 Norwich Road, Wetheringsett cum Brockford
A140 The Street, Wetheringsett cum Brockford
A140 Norwich Road, Thwaite
A140 Norwich Road, Stoke Ash
A140 Ipswich Road, Stoke Ash
A140 Norwich Road, Braiseworth
A140 Ipswich Road, Thornham Parva
A140 Ipswich Road, Yaxley (from Ipswich Road, Thornham Parva to Castleton Way)
Diversion route – A140, A143, A14 and vice versa.
B1075 Tomline Road, Ipswich (Sundays only)
Diversion route – Foxhall Road, Derby Road and vice versa.
U4736 Old Ipswich Road, Claydon – Bus only section - will be closed from 6pm each Saturday to 23:59 on each Sunday from 7 October 2023 to 12 November 2023
Subway closure - 8 October to 12 November 2023 (24 hours)
A1156 St Matthews Street, Ipswich – Subway entrance at west side of St Matthews Street and Civic Drive roundabout.
Diversion route – St Matthews Street and Civic Drive.
