Once the road network around the town centre is completed, attention is set to turn to the roads heading into the heart of Ipswich after a further £1.8 million has been earmarked by the government.
The new money will improve the radial routes into Ipswich – hopefully speeding up traffic and easing congestion.
Key roads that need improvement are Norwich Road, where rush-hour congestion is a daily fact of life between the Asda roundabout and the Bury Road lights, and London Road where there is frequent congestion – prompting rat-running through the Chantry Estate.
Other routes expected to be improved are Felixstowe Road and Woodbridge Road.
The changes will continue the work of the Travel Ipswich programme which has led to significant changes in the town centre.
That still has to be completed, and full computer control still has to be introduced.
The work in Ipswich is part of a £20 million a pot of cash already provisionally planned for 2016 onwards, which has been announced alongside £60 million for 2015 secured by the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.
The next phase of work on the roads of Ipswich is expected to start in two years’ time – and was welcomed by the town’s MP Ben Gummer.
He said: “This is magnificent news for the region as a whole and especially for Ipswich which will see some major improvements in its roads network.
“We have actually got more than we initially asked for, and the road improvements into Ipswich should improve the town enormously,” he said.
While Ipswich was celebrating, there was disappointment for residents living beside the A12 in east Suffolk with no mention of funding for a by-pass for the four villages between Wickham Market and Saxmundham.
The road is seen as vital for the economy of the Waveney area – and for the whole of east Suffolk which is seen as the “Green Energy” hub of the 21st century.
The New Anglia LEP is expected to work with local authorities and energy giant EDF to ensure that a new by-pass is included in plans for a new nuclear power station at Sizewell.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here