A14 Junction 55 Copdock Interchange Public Consultation

Overview

Investing in your roads

Part of our work is to develop a continuous pipeline of potential schemes to improve safety, tackle congestion and meet the future demands the road network will face. Working closely with the Department for Transport (DfT), we have identified a possible 32 proposed schemes for development as part of the Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) pipeline (2025-2030).

As the exploration and development process for these schemes progresses, we will continue to regularly review whether the schemes are the best possible options to take forward for further development and that they meet specific strategic objectives and ensure value for money.

We are committed to developing the right programme of schemes which is appropriately balanced to deliver optimum benefits and assist the Government in deciding which schemes will be confirmed for further development.

We are considering the A14 Junction 55 Copdock Interchange for proposed improvement as part of National Highways continued investment in the East of England. 

About the junction

The A14 Junction 55 Copdock Interchange in Babergh District, south-west of Ipswich is a key section of the Strategic Road Network serving Ipswich, via the A14, the A12 and the A1214.

The A14 has national and international importance as part of the Trans-European Transport Network, connecting the Port of Felixstowe (14 miles west of the Copdock Interchange) with the Midlands and beyond via the M6 and M1.

The junction with the A12 provides access to Colchester, Chelmsford, London, the M25 and Stansted Airport to the south. It also provides access to the A1214, a key route for accessing Ipswich and the A14.  

The current variations in journey time reliability (that is, being able to accurately predict when individual vehicles will be arriving and departing) often present an unwelcome and potentially hugely costly risk for freight moving to and from the Port of Felixstowe. Information already sourced from organisations involved shows that reliability is more important to the logistics and distribution chain relying on the Strategic Road Network than simple speed of delivery.

During peak periods, average speeds on the approaches to the Copdock Interchange are significantly less than the statutory limit. This results in unnecessary delays and queueing on the local road network. It is evident that the current demands on this section of the Strategic Road Network exceed the available capacity of the junction at crucial times and is likely to increase in the future. Such congestion also means significant numbers of drivers are diverting onto local roads with the associated increased risk to pedestrians and other road users.

Our objectives to improve the A14 Junction 55 Copdock Interchange include: 

• improving journey times through the junction with increased reliability and facilitating the smooth flow of traffic
• making the junction itself and nearby roads safer
• supporting economic growth, especially facilitating reliable access to the Port of Felixstowe and their expansion proposals
• delivering the best environmental design outcome
• providing a more accessible and integrated route not just for road traffic but also cyclists, walkers and other users of the network
• increasing the local road network’s ability to recover from disruption, including road traffic collisions and other incidents.

Our consultation brochure  explains the options for the proposed scheme and how we have developed and sifted them. We also provide details of how you can give us your feedback during our public consultation.

Consultation options

After sifting and assessing alternatives, we are asking for feedback on two options for the junction as a part of the public consultation:

Option 1

Increase the capacity of the existing junction to help accommodate the future demand. This will be done by widening the circulatory carriageway and the provision of free flow left turn lanes at three of the four entry points.

Option 4

Decrease the volume of traffic at the existing junction by removing the A12 (South) to A14(East) (and vice versa) movements onto separate link roads. This option will see a new free flow two-way link road built.

Find out more and have your say

Here are other ways you can get information about or proposals

Virtual Event Space

Use this link to visit our Virtual Event Space:

https://copdock-interchange-j55.virtualeventspace.io

This virtual exhibition includes all the materials that you would be able to find at a public exhibition such as maps and environmental information. We have provided clear instructions so that people know how to navigate through the room.

If you require help accessing the room, you can get in touch with our project team at A14J55copdock@highwaysengland.co.uk.

Public exhibitions

During the consultation period, we'll be holding four in-person public exhibitions, where you can find out more about the proposed scheme and speak to members of the project team. You'll find dates, venues and times listed in the Events section at the bottom of this page.

Where to get a hard copy of our consultation brochure

You can pick up a hard copy of our consultation brochure at these locations: 

• Goslings Farm Shop, Garden Centre and Cafe, High Rd, Felixstowe IP11 0RJ
• Sproughton Community Shop, Tithe Barn, Lower St, Sproughton, Ipswich IP8 3AA
• Suffolk County Council, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Rd, Ipswich IP1 2BX
• Suffolk Libraries, County Library, Northgate St, Ipswich IP1 3DE
• Stoke Library, Maidenhall Approach, Ipswich IP2 8PL
• Chantry Library, Hawthorn Dr, Ipswich IP2 0QY
• Gainsborough Community Library, Clapgate Ln, Ipswich IP3 0RL
• Felixstowe Town Council, Town Hall, Undercliff Rd W, Felixstowe IP11 2AG (To be distributed in the Visit Felixstowe beach-hut)
• Capel St Mary Parish Council, 27a The Street, Capel St Mary, Ipswich. IP9 2EE (will also be distributed in the local library)

Webinar

We will also be hosting an online event where our technical experts will explain the proposals and answer any questions that you may have.

We will hold the Webinar on Wednesday 10 November 2021 from 6pm to 7pm.

If you would like to attend this, please join on the day using this Microsoft Teams event link.

If you are having trouble, or need help joining,  please get in touch with our project team by emailing A14J55copdock@highwaysengland.co.uk

Why your views matter

Road infrastructure improvements affect everyone. They help us move around our country and connect with one another. It’s essential that we understand your views so we can ensure we deliver the right schemes.

Consultation plays a vital part in the development of scheme design. Your feedback to this public consultation will help us understand how the proposed options impact road users and the local community. You will be helping to shape the scheme and maximise the benefits as we progress the design.

Please submit your response by 11.59pm on Thursday 9 December 2021. Responses received after this time may not be considered.

How to respond

Your views are important to help us better understand any impacts our scheme may have on you, local businesses and the community.

You can respond to the consultation by following the link to the consultation survey below.  

You can also reply by Email to A14J55copdock@highwaysengland.co.uk

Alternatively, you can complete a paper copy of the consultation response form and return it using our freepost address. There is no need for a stamp.

Our freepost address (case sensitive) is:

Freepost COPDOCK INTERCHANGE CONSULTATION

What happens next

Once we have collated and analysed all the full range of responses to the consultation, National Highways will produce a consultation report. This report will summarise and consolidate the feedback received and will be available to the public once the consultation has concluded.

The A14 Junction 55 Copdock Interchange improvement scheme is working in coordination with other projects in the area, including RIS3 schemes.

Once this stage of the development is concluded, the best scheme will be presented to the Department for Transport for consideration for funding. If successful, a Preferred Route Announcement (PRA) would be taken forward to preliminary design and planning approval. This will include the rationale for the decisions and look to respond to the consultation feedback.