Lakenheath residents voice anger over B1112 road closure and 11-mile diversion route

Lakenheath residents have voiced their frustration over planned roadworks which will see a main road closed for 61 days and a 11-mile diversion route in place.

The roadworks, which started today, have closed the B1112 Eriswell/Lakenheath road from Eriswell Road to the Earls Field roundabout until November 25 while drainage improvement works are being carried out.

Traffic will be diverted through the B1112, A1065, C620 Wangford Road and the B1112, potentially causing motorists to take an 18-minute detour.

One resident who lives on the housing estate off Lord's Walk, which is close to the roadworks, said his fellow neighbours are concerned about the diversion. He said: "The first we knew about it was when they put up signs to say the road was going to be closed for 61 days and that was it. There was no other notifications or correspondence. No letters to us, no emails, just the signs. It was only through a little bit of detective work by some of the other residents that we found out the plans of where it was going to be and the diversions.

"There are only a couple of roads off the estate. You've got a main access road into the back of the housing estate that goes into the airbase and that adjoins two of the roads into the housing estate, so when you take away one of the exits to the roundabout and you put all of the traffic effectively up one road it doesn't take a genius to work out that is going to cause absolute carnage.

"Whenever there's an accident or there's an issue, and there has been some in the past, the tailbacks caused by one exit of that roundabout being closed are sometimes in excess of an hour/an hour and a half just to get through. It's just crazy the impact it will undoubtedly have."

The resident added that the diversion will particularly have an impact on pupils and parents on their way to drop children off at school.

In an announcement on its website, Suffolk County Council said the road needs to be completely shut to ensure there is enough space for the workforce to safely carry out their job.

The announcement also said that the work will address several drainage issues, including standing water caused by heavy rainfall at the roundabout which could freeze over during the winter months, as well as improving the effectiveness of the drains and installing over 300m of new drainage pipe in the verge and footway.

However, residents have suggested to Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Highways that the roadworks be carried out in 200/300m sections controlled by traffic lights rather than close the whole road, but feel they are not being listened to.

They will now take up their concerns at the next parish council meeting this week.

A spokesman for Suffolk Highways said: "We apologise for the disruption this work may cause; however the improvements must be completed to prevent future flooding. Access to businesses and residents will be available via the north of the Lords Walk roundabout with school transport being allowed through the site each day."