First enormous abnormal load to move out of Ipswich this morning

The equipments is heading to Burstall substation as part of the East Anglia ONE project. Picture: SUFFOLK HIGHWAYS (Image: Archant)

Ten police cars will escort the abnormal loads from Ipswich Docks to Wherstead Road and Bourne Bridge over two weekends from around 7-8.30am.

The transformers were built in Spain and are a major part of the £2.5billion East Anglia ONE Offshore wind farm.

The convoys will move out of Ipswich in the early hours of the next two weekends. Picture: SUFFOLK HIGHWAYS (Image: Archant)

In preparation for this morning’s big move traffic signals, street lighting columns, road signs and traffic islands will be removed from the area.

Wherstead Road will be completely shut for short periods and on-street parking will be obstructed through Sproughton along B1113, High Street, Loraine Way and Bullen Lane.

Each reactor weighs around 250 tonnes. Picture: SUFFOLK HIGHWAYS (Image: Archant)

The convoy will be travelling out of Wherstead Road on the following route:

• Left out of port and cross central reservation onto the northbound carriageway

• Cross Ostrich Creek Bridge on wrong side of road and turn right onto A137

• With a rolling road block in place, join the A14 in the wrong direction for one junction (56-55)

• Continue onto A14 junction 55 eastbound off-slip and turn tractor units around

• Turn left onto A1214 heading north

• Cross the roundabout continuing onto A1214

• At the traffic lights turn left onto A1071

• At the roundabout turn right onto B1113 and negotiate Sproughton

• Turn left onto Bullen Lane

For drivers travelling eastbound on the A14, Suffolk Highways are diverting traffic from Ipswich docks to the A137 Hawes Street, Vernon Street, Star Lane, Grimwade Street, Duke Street, Holywells Road, Landseer Road, Nacton Road, A1189, A14 (J57), A14 (J56) and vice versa.

The rest of the transformers will be moved on October 28, November 3 and November 4.