A14 reconstruction works see more than 9,000 tonnes of old concrete removed between junction 47a in Haughley and junction 49 in Tothill near Stowmarket

More than 9,000 tonnes of old concrete has already been removed from a section of the A14 in Suffolk as a reconstruction scheme is under way.

The scheme will see National Highways reconstruct and replace the road surface of the A14 carriageway between Haughley (junction 47a), near Stowmarket, and Tothill (junction 49) as part of a nationwide drive to revitalise concrete roads across the country.

After decades of use and hundreds of millions of journeys, the stretch of A14 was in need of upgrades to improve safety, create a smoother surface and reduce noise for drivers.

The £37m scheme will see the old concrete road surface and some of the foundations removed, before rebuilding the road with recycled material and a new asphalt top.

As well as resurfacing the road, the project will see replacement kerbs installed, safety barriers replaced, new road markings and new reflective road studs.

Simon Amor, National Highways head of scheme delivery, said: “We’ve made excellent progress across the scheme in the last month, breaking and removing the old concrete surface on the eastbound carriageway.

“More than 9,000 tonnes of concrete – enough to fill 1.5 Olympic sized swimming pools – has been dug out, which will later be recycled into the foundations of the new road.

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

In the coming weeks, National Highways will begin rebuilding the foundations of lane two on the eastbound carriageway with strengthened material before laying the asphalt top. The process will then be repeated in lane one.

National Highways is also making a fresh appeal to motorists to stay on the A14 rather than using local roads to bypass the contraflow roadworks.

Simon added: “With the harvest season fast approaching, it’s expected there will be an increase in farm traffic using local roads so motorists unnecessary leaving the A14 could potentially lead to blockages and congestion on these roads.

“We’d ask that motorists remain on the A14 to complete their journeys to reduce the pressure on local roads.”

Temporary signs for the contraflow roads are in place on the A14 asking drivers to use both lanes when queuing, and to merge into lane one in turn, ahead of the road becoming a single lane, which reduces congestion and makes better use of the available road.

Repairs or replacements will also be made to stretches of road on the A11, A12, A120 and M11.