ROADWORKS along Nacton Road in Ipswich are currently causing long tailbacks – but it's all in the name of safety.Work on the road will continue for around five to six weeks, but after that there will be new crossings, a new cycle route and the whole road is to be resurfaced.

ROADWORKS along Nacton Road in Ipswich are currently causing long tailbacks – but it's all in the name of safety.

Work on the road will continue for around five to six weeks, but after that there will be new crossings, a new cycle route and the whole road is to be resurfaced.

Pat Ryan, the town's borough engineer, said: "Nacton Road is to be completely re-surfaced, at the same time we need a cycle route from the roundabout at the Thrasher public house to Maryon Road.

"In places we need to slightly widen the road to allow for the cycle route to be increased and we also need to install a pedestrian crossing close to the new school at Ravenswood."

The crossing will allow cyclists and pedestrians to cross at the same point in the road.

Mr Ryan added: "We are also upgrading all the crossings to households and making sure all the verges are landscaped.

"The new road surface will also make things a lot better on Nacton Road and it will also be much safer."

Mr Ryan said there will be single lane traffic at times, but any disruption will be avoided if possible.

Elsewhere, motorists in Ipswich were given other bad news this week with work starting in Woodbridge Road and Woodbridge Road East.

Major road works between the Lattice Barn pub and the entrance to Rushmere Heath are expected to last until May.

To ensure work is carried out safely and to minimise disruption during the day, the road will be closed at night at certain times to allow for resurfacing of roundabouts between Colchester Road and Heath Road.