Motorists have continued to vent their anger over the traffic chaos causing huge delays during both rush hours in Kesgrave this week.

Ipswich Star: Roadworks on Main Road (A1214) in Kesgrave are causing long delays for motorists.Roadworks on Main Road (A1214) in Kesgrave are causing long delays for motorists.

Angry drivers claimed normal 25-minute journeys to get to work and drop off schoolchildren have taken over two hours due to fresh roadworks on one of the town’s busiest roads.

Anglian Water put up four-way temporary traffic lights at the Ropes Drive East roundabout on the A1214 on Monday. It is the main route for Kesgrave motorists connecting Ipswich and the A12. The work to install a new water connection is due to finish on Friday.

Some have called for the bus lane to open up to normal traffic for the next two days, while others have said parents should walk their children to school.

One Star reader, named Paul E, wrote online: “Lest we forget, the design for Grange Farm included a Northern Relief Road (not the Northern Bypass) to ease the strain on the A1214.

“This was never built, instead traffic lights were placed at the two Ropes Drive roundabouts instead. It would be lovely to know why SCC (Suffolk County Council) took this decision given that (in my opinion) it was clearly wrong 20 years ago and is even more so now.”

Another, named Millhouse, said: “It is bad enough that the council planners agreed to a huge estate with just two exit roads, but then to as good as close one is a disgrace.

“Do the roadworks at night please. It took me an hour to do a 15-minute journey. If it was by train, I could claim compensation for that kind of delay.”

Jim Strobe said: “People who work in Martlesham, or have children who go to school in Martlesham, shouldn’t drive from Grange Farm unless they absolutely have to. It’s a very easy walk or cycle. Last week was half term, and the volume of traffic fell dramatically. Unfortunately, people have become so tied to their cars that the need to use them overrides any other consideration.”

Meanwhile, both lanes of the A1214 between Bell Lane and Ropes Drive will be closed between 7pm and 5am from November 23-25, due to county council resurfacing work.

An Anglian Water spokesman said the work was agreed with SCC, adding: “We are very sorry if road users have been inconvenienced. The roadworks couldn’t be carried out during half term as A1214 was part of a diversion route for other works.”

A SCC spokesman said the work is “necessary” and could not have taken place any other time this year.