WORK finally begins today on a long-awaited link road at Capel St Mary. Village residents, who mounted a 10-year campaign to improve safety on the junction of the A12 and Pound Lane, celebrated in June as the Highways Agency announced it would be spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on improvements.

WORK finally begins today on a long-awaited link road at Capel St Mary.

Village residents, who mounted a 10-year campaign to improve safety on the junction of the A12 and Pound Lane, celebrated in June as the Highways Agency announced it would be spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on improvements.

Today the diggers will finally move in.

When finished the improvements, which are costing £700,000, will close the central reservation, stopping traffic crossing the busy road.

At the same time the contractors will build a new road linking Bluegate Lane and the C426 Bentley Road.

For the last decade the Old London Road Residents' Association fought for the link road and welcomed the scheme when it was announced earlier this year.

Julian O'Dell, Highways Agency project manager, said: "The Highways Agency is committed to making its roads safer.

"Closing central reservation gaps, where feasible, will reduce the potential for accidents.

"I am delighted the contract has now been awarded so work can start on this A12 scheme to improve safety at Capel St Mary."

Traffic from the west side of Capel St Mary will continue to reach the A12 by travelling through the village to join at the Capel St Mary interchange.

Traffic from the east side of the village will use the new link road to join the interchange and the A12.

The link road will connect Bluegate lane to Bentley Road across land owned by Suffolk County Council. The council is providing the land for the road and will take over responsibility for it after the work has finished.

The contract for the work has been awarded to Lafarge Contracting and construction is expected to last for about five months.

N Information about roadworks across England motorway and trunk road network is available from the Highways Agency information line on 08457 504030 or by visiting www.highways.gov.uk.