A14 roadworks near Stowmarket from Haughley to Tothill will start next month

A busy stretch of the A14 will be closed next month as work begins on a 16-month resurfacing project.

National Highways will be closing the A14 next month to replace the road surface between Haughley and Tothill, near Stowmarket.

The construction project is due to finish by summer 2024 and a 50mph contraflow system will be put in place for the next 16 months.

On the National Highways website, it said: “Our repairs will help improve the safety of the road surface, but it will also provide a smoother and quieter journey for road users.

“Rather than repairing the potholes and cracking, the whole carriageway will be reconstructed and re-laid to ensure a smoother and safer ride.

“Once complete, we expect the life of the road surface to be extended by up to 40 more years, with fewer future closures for maintenance repairs, meaning more reliable journeys for road users.”

The stretch of road on the A14, between junction 47a and junction 49, will be entirely relaid.

The project is part of National Highways long-term plan of investing £400m to repair and replace roads across the country.

Andy Jobling, National Highways programme delivery manager, believes that the roadworks are essential and needed.

In October, he said: “Despite serving us well for decades, the surface of this stretch of road is coming towards the end of its life and needs upgrading.

“This scheme will make this stretch of the A14 safer and smoother, ensuring it’s fit for the thousands of drivers that use it every day.”