WORK on a major scheme to enable a notorious roundabout to cope with one million extra lorries a year is likely to start within months.Community leaders have been told that a third lane is to be put in place at Felixstowe's A14 dock spur roundabout to make it safer and deal with the traffic port expansion will generate.

WORK on a major scheme to enable a notorious roundabout to cope with one million extra lorries a year is likely to start within months.

Community leaders have been told that a third lane is to be put in place at Felixstowe's A14 dock spur roundabout to make it safer and deal with the traffic port expansion will generate.

Trees have already been cut down on the central reservation in preparation for the road widening scheme.

However, the Highways Agency refused to answer the Evening Star's questions about the project - saying it had not yet decided what the scheme would involve, even though it has been four years in the planning stages, did not know how much it would cost, or when it would start.

A public notice says the scheme will begin on or after May 5 and take about a year to complete, and gives full details of the road closures, diversions and temporary speed limits during the project.

Highways Agency spokeswoman Trudi Howe though said the agency had a big window in terms of when the work would begin.

“At the moment there is no further information in terms of dates and what is happening or the costs. This is just a preliminary notification,” she said.

Councillors have been told a third lane will be built coming towards Felixstowe at the roundabout - allowing local traffic travelling into the town to be separated from the dock traffic to reach Candlet Road easier.

The project - to be paid for by the Port of Felixstowe - is needed because the container terminal will generate 2,700 extra trucks a day on top of the 4,000-plus already using the junction when its latest expansion is fully operational.

Over the past 20 years the roundabout has been the scene of many roll-over accidents involving articulated lorries - including one where a juggernaut flipped over and landed on a car and crushed and killed the driver.

What would you like to see done at the dock spur roundabout? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk