TRANSPORT minister Rosie Winterton has championed the £32 million investment to straighten out the notorious Haughley Bends and improve safety on a stretch of the A14.

TRANSPORT minister Rosie Winterton has championed the £32 million investment to straighten out the notorious Haughley Bends and improve safety on a stretch of the A14.

The minister got behind the controls of a digger yesterday to help with the construction of the A14 Haughley New Street to Stowmarket dual carriageway and described the work as a good investment that would improve safety in the area.

She said: “When the new route is complete, it will make the A14 safer and less congested for long distance and local traffic travelling between the east coast ports of Felixstowe and Harwich and the M1 and M6 motorways in central England.

“It will boost an important route for freight traffic, which contributes to the health of the UK economy by strengthening links with Belgium, Holland and other European countries.

“This scheme is also good news for walkers, cyclists and horse riders because the Highways Agency is going to use the old A14 eastbound carriageway for a dedicated route for them. The old westbound carriageway will become a two-way local road.”

The project includes a new two-level junction at Tot Hill to give better access to the A14 for Stowmarket and the villages of Haughley, Haughley New Street and Harleston.

Chris Faiers, chairman of Haughley Parish Council, said: “When this is complete people will not be taking risks on the road anymore. The village has spent years campaigning for change.”

Frank Whittle, Stowmarket mayor, said: “This will save lives, there have been a lot of deaths on the Haughley Bends, as well as people ending up in hospital. This new road project is excellent.”

Construction of the new dual carriageway started in June, one month ahead of its scheduled start date, and is expected to be fully completed in 18 months.