Home   Ipswich   News   Article

Subscribe Now

A140 closure postponed and extended for three heavy loads travelling from Ipswich Docks to Eye Airfield Progress Power Station




Plans to move three vehicles carrying heavy loads across Suffolk have been postponed and extended following a delay in shipping.

Initially, Suffolk Highways planned to transport vehicles carrying parts of a power station across three Sundays in October – starting from October 8.

However, the starting date has been pushed back until October 22, with the completion date set for the end of November/beginning of December.

Plans to move heavy loads from Ipswich to Eye have been postponed due to a delay in shipping. Picture: Suffolk County Council
Plans to move heavy loads from Ipswich to Eye have been postponed due to a delay in shipping. Picture: Suffolk County Council

The movements will now take place across five to six Sundays instead of three, with the exception of November 12, where no transportation will take place.

This is to avoid disruption to the Remembrance Sunday parade.

The vehicles, which are 80m long and weigh approximately 500 to 600 tonnes each, will travel from Ipswich Docks to Eye Airfield Progress Power Station.

The operation will deliver a generator, a turbine and transformer on behalf of Drax Group. Picture: Suffolk County Council
The operation will deliver a generator, a turbine and transformer on behalf of Drax Group. Picture: Suffolk County Council
A temporary overbridge at Brockford will be installed to protect the county’s roads and structure. Picture: Suffolk County Council
A temporary overbridge at Brockford will be installed to protect the county’s roads and structure. Picture: Suffolk County Council

They will depart at 6.30am each day.

Drivers might experience disruptions as some of the measures in place include road closures and parking restrictions.

The A140 will be closed October 29, November 19 and December 3.

The operation will support Drax Group, a renewable energy company, with the delivery of a 12m generator, a 10m turbine and a 10m transformer.

Suffolk Police will be helping to manage traffic while the operation is in place. Picture: Suffolk County Council
Suffolk Police will be helping to manage traffic while the operation is in place. Picture: Suffolk County Council
The A140 will be closed while the vehicles pass through. Picture: Suffolk County Council
The A140 will be closed while the vehicles pass through. Picture: Suffolk County Council

Cllr Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member responsible for Ipswich, 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 movement including Allelys, National Highways, Suffolk Police as well as J McCann and Swarc which provides Suffolk with street lighting and traffic signal

Live updates will be provided while the huge structures are in transit on X (previously twitter) @Suff_highways.

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.