Church Road, Elmswell, which was closed following a three vehicle crash. Photo: suffolkvillage.info
Just a week after traffic chaos hit the villages of Elmswell, Wetherden, Haughley, Woolpit, Tostock and Beyton
following a crash on the A14, there has been two other collisions in the area.
It came at a time when the Highways Agency is seeking views on plans to close slip roads along the dual carriageway in a bid to tackle rat-running through the communities.
Last Friday the A14 was closed after a lorry and a van are involved in a collision which led to traffic clogging the villages.
And during a 24-hour period there was similar misery for locals when just before noon today (Friday, June 23) a vehicle had to be recovered after breaking down in the A14 contraflow on the westbound side of the carriageway at Elmswell.
Drivers reported being stuck in standstill traffic at Haughley and there were reports of delays of around 30 minutes while many found other routes through the villages.
And yesterday just before 4pm there was a three car crash in Church Road, Elmswell, which resulted in the road being blocked.
The vehicles involved were a VW Golf, BMW X5 and a Citroen Picasso.
Police, firefighters and the ambulance service attended the scene and police reported that two drivers suffered minor injuries with one person being trapped in the wreckage.
One local resident caught up in the aftermath of the accident said: “The only way for motorists to reach their homes in Church Road and the very busy Wetherden Road was to turn around and try to go down School Road which was totally gridlocked with the additional problem of the railway crossing being down, the junction at the Co-op was an absolute nightmare.
“Following on from the previous chaos last week we are very lucky this is the summer and not cold wet or slippery winter … this could get worse with at least a year to go for the A14 road works to be finished.”
Meanwhile, the Highways Agency said it is considering further measures due to motorists ignoring signs to stick to the single lane A14 contraflow.
It follows complains from residents about motorists using the villages as short cuts to avoid delays.
In a letter to parish councils, National Highways, says it is working with Suffolk County Council on the idea, which would initially be on a week-long trial basis, at peak times.
It said: “We’re aware that A14 through traffic continues to use local roads to try to shorten journeys instead of travelling through the contraflow despite being repeatedly requested not to in all of our communications.
“We have worked with Suffolk County Council to consider further mitigations that can be introduced to prevent the rat running through local villages.
“Although additional signs have been positioned along various routes, it is clear that not all road users are paying attention to these.
“As such we’re considering whether closing exit slip roads during peak periods may be a solution in keeping the through traffic on the A14.
“Before we implement this measure, we wanted to gauge your opinion on the proposal as it will directly affect the local access and egress arrangements.”
Post Views: 4,067
8 thoughts on “Traffic chaos hits villages on the fringe of the A14 a week after gridlock in the area”
Roads do not cause accidents. People not paying due care and attention do.
I like many live and have to travel this road. Please do not stop me going home at the end of the day by closing slip roads.
Only so much time on the tacho.
If an exit close to your home or on the way to a doctors’ surgery is closed it can create havoc and be dangerous too. I’m very strongly against this proposal. I had an eight mile detour this week because a road near my home was closed because of an accident; closing exits from the A14 could have a similar effect.
Closing slip roads to ‘coral’ motorists on the A14 is a step too far. The situation is not good but that would
make a bad situation even worse. What about the people who live in the villages close to the A14. They
wouldn’t even be able to get off at their own junction.
Closing certain slip roads won’t fix the traffic problem because drivers may come off the A14 at other slip roads ie Rougham 45 instead of Thurston 46 and cut through that way instead. And as previously said, not ideal for people who live in the villages, how are they meant to get home! I think leave well alone, it is what it is, maybe get more road workers on the job in hand and get it finished quicker!!
I was returning to Stowmarket from London yesterday and took my usual exit from the A14 via the Wetherden/Haughley exit only to find myself behind an enormous lorry. It took the turning as far the roundabout at the turn for Stowmarket and then rejoined the A14. I must admit to being surprised and shocked by this selfish behaviour.
This is a dreadful idea… I live in one of these villages .. very near a slip road (46) how would I and all my neighbors get to their houses? I work in bury.
Roads do not cause accidents. People not paying due care and attention do.
I like many live and have to travel this road. Please do not stop me going home at the end of the day by closing slip roads.
Only so much time on the tacho.
If an exit close to your home or on the way to a doctors’ surgery is closed it can create havoc and be dangerous too. I’m very strongly against this proposal. I had an eight mile detour this week because a road near my home was closed because of an accident; closing exits from the A14 could have a similar effect.
Closing slip roads to ‘coral’ motorists on the A14 is a step too far. The situation is not good but that would
make a bad situation even worse. What about the people who live in the villages close to the A14. They
wouldn’t even be able to get off at their own junction.
Closing certain slip roads won’t fix the traffic problem because drivers may come off the A14 at other slip roads ie Rougham 45 instead of Thurston 46 and cut through that way instead. And as previously said, not ideal for people who live in the villages, how are they meant to get home! I think leave well alone, it is what it is, maybe get more road workers on the job in hand and get it finished quicker!!
Leave as is. Closing exits off A14 will make things worse.
I was returning to Stowmarket from London yesterday and took my usual exit from the A14 via the Wetherden/Haughley exit only to find myself behind an enormous lorry. It took the turning as far the roundabout at the turn for Stowmarket and then rejoined the A14. I must admit to being surprised and shocked by this selfish behaviour.
If slip roads are closed, how will residents get into villages.
This is a dreadful idea… I live in one of these villages .. very near a slip road (46) how would I and all my neighbors get to their houses? I work in bury.