Drivers have been warned they face a shocking 43-mile diversion on a major A-road as critical work gets underway which could add more than an hour and a half to journey times.
The diversion will take place on the A134 Sicklesmere Road in Bury St Edmunds and will be in place for roughly eight weekends between February 21 and May 5.
The 43.5-mile route will take drivers along a rural road to help bypass the construction of a new housing estate in the area.
Despite the delays for drivers, the developers of the site, Abbots Vale, said the road closures were needed to "improve traffic flow" and avoid rat runs.
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The diverted route will cause roughly 90-minutes of delays for drivers
GETTY/GOOGLE MAPS
According to the developers, traffic plans were updated after receiving negative feedback from residents who complained about their roads being clogged up by cars.
The company shared: "Rushbrooke Lane and Low Green will both now become 'no through roads' and therefore only accessible to residents."
The changes would see Rushbrooke Lane closed from the junction of North Hill with it only being accessible from Rougham Hill. Low Green will also close at the junction with the A134 only accessible from Nowton Road.
Peter Royce, chairman of Great and Little Whelnetham Parish Council told the BBC: "We've got the potential for a three-hour, 90-mile diversion route that is going to cost them an arm and a leg in comparison to the short journey that they did before."
As part of the diversion route, Sicklesmere Road will be closed from February 21 to February 24 between 8pm and 5am. It will also be shut on March 7-10, March 21-24, March 28-31, April 4-7, April 11-14, April 25-28 and finally between May 2 and May 5.
Royce also raised concerns about how minor routes could be "destroyed" if they are used as alternatives as part of the diversion.
In response, a spokesperson for Hopkins Homes explained: "We understand these essential roadworks will cause some disruption, and we are committed to working closely with Suffolk Highways to minimise this as much as possible. We will closely monitor the impact of these changes from the start of the works."
However, from today, Sicklesmere Road will remain open with temporary traffic lights put in place with drivers urged to plan ahead to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
Meanwhile, Rushbrooke Lane and Low Green will be shut southbound and accessible to two-way traffic from the north only.
Henry Hopking, chairman of Nowton Parish Council added: "I'm a great believer in development – you can’t stop change. This roundabout is going to go in and should eventually reduce traffic. It needs to happen, but how do we ease the impact of it?"
He warned that the section of road between the A134 and Nowton Village Hall "isn’t suitable for passing traffic, there are no passing points and there is a sheer drop off the side into a ditch. How can we keep drivers safe?"
Hopking added: "I’m happy to bet there will be coming together of cars on the Low Green road, or someone will end up in a ditch, or the road will be blocked when someone gets a puncture."
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Drivers will see road closures last until May as part of the road closures
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On Wednesday, February 19, the parish council will invite all residents to attend a meeting to discuss traffic management during the upcoming closures of the A134 road.
In response to the road closures, a petition has been launched calling for the immediate removal of the measures "on grounds of public safety". The petition, which has already received thousands of signatures, detailed: "I am writing to formally object to the planned closure of the A134 Sicklesmere Road in Bury St Edmunds, which is set to commence in February 2025 for eight consecutive weekends.
"As a resident of one of the many villages south of Bury St Edmunds that rely on this vital route, I am deeply concerned about the severe and disproportionate impact this closure will have on public safety, emergency response times, and vulnerable residents."
