WORK on a £10 million scheme to ease severe congestion and traffic chaos in Stowmarket has started, delighting residents.

WORK on a £10 million scheme to ease severe congestion and traffic chaos in Stowmarket has started, delighting residents.

The relief road will run between the B1115 Stowupland Road and the A1308 Gipping Way, passing through the Cedars Park development, Creeting Road, over the railway and River Gipping connecting to Gipping Way.

The project will include building three new bridges - two over the River Gipping and one over the main London to Norwich railway line - together with a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the river and new junctions with Gipping Way and Creeting Road.

Suffolk County Council, the highways authority, said the major construction scheme, which started on Monday , will take 18 months to complete.

Guy McGregor, Suffolk County Council's spokesman for roads and transport, said: “After much preparation I am delighted that the work on the relief road has begun.

“Although there may be a few congestion problems while the work is ongoing I am sure local residents will be happy to support the work, as the long term gain will far outweigh the small problems we may encounter along the way.”

Town mayor Anne Whybrow said: “This is fantastic. Signs are going up and we are seeing real progress. At last this is becoming reality, things really are happening.

“Sometimes it can take me 20 minutes to get out of the town, and residents will find this will ease congestion.

“More than anything though I welcome the sight of cranes in our town, it is a symbol of our thriving economy, which this road can only help.

“Coming at a time when the district council is striving to regenerate the town, this could be the tipping point in the development of our community. We have so much to be proud of here, the gateway to Stowmarket is finally open.”

The completion of the relief road will improve access between the large new Cedars Park estate and the town centre, provide additional parking at the railway station and will reduce congestion and delays at the Stowupland Road level crossing.

Suffolk County Council awarded the construction contract to Birse Civils Ltd.