A140 Suffolk hotspot in government road improvement list

The junction between the A140 and the A1120 at Earl Stonham is one of the most dangerous in the county and has been the scene of numerous accidents over the years.

Suffolk County Council has recently carried out a consultation exercise for local residents and road users to say how it should be improved.

That consultation has only just closed and the results are still being collated - but the bid for a major improvement there has been given a major boost by being included in a list of schemes that the government is ready to support.

Creating a roundabout at the site would be problematic because there are a number of properties near the roads.

But local MP Dr Dan Poulter said he believed that compulsory purchase orders may be necessary too create the space needed.

He did not think traffic lights at the site would be appropriate because of the number of properties nearby.

Dr Dan Poulter welcomed the government offer to support the rebuilding of the junction. (Image: Archant)

Dr Poulter said: "I am delighted it has been included in the list because there are a number of dangerous junctions on the A140 but that is certainly one of the worst.

"It is quite complex because of the space and it may require compulsory purchase orders so I expect the cost to be somewhere between £20m and £30m."

He has been working with the county council and Transport East on the plans which were included in a government list published on Monday of projects that could benefit from funding diverted from HS2.

Dr Poulter said: "That is very good news - it shows this scheme is on the government radar and that should mean it can progress."

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said the proposal was still at an early stage and officials were studying the consultation - the results would form part of the business case that would be presented before the end of the year.