A MAJOR roadworks scheme is due to move on to its next phase...but there will be further road closures. 

The Ipswich Road and Harwich Road improvement scheme in Colchester has been underway since September. 

The carriageway widening and creation of single roundabouts in each Road is due to take place soon, but some road closures have been announced ahead of the works. 

From June 24  Ipswich Road South, near East Street, will be closed for four weeks to enable Anglian Water to complete their water main diversion and re-connection. It involves trenching about 12 meters across Ipswich Road.

As soon as that is finished, both BT works and re-building the retaining wall along the rail line can start.

The road improvements involve carriageway widening and making single instead of multi-roundabouts. To do this at the Ipswich Road junction, the retaining wall supporting the road above the railway line must be moved back and strengthened.

A major piling and wall-building operation will be carried out, meaning Ipswich Road South will be closed again from July 20.

The total duration for these combined road closures is anticipated to be around five months.

Kevin Bentley, county councillor responsible for infrastructure, said: “The moved and strengthened retaining wall is an essential part of the whole improvement scheme.

“This in itself is a significant operation and will require the construction of a continuous new piled retaining wall behind the existing wall below the surface of the Ipswich Road roundabout.

"I recognise that a prolonged closure will contribute to some delays for drivers, but I am working closely with the engineers to see how quickly, as the piling work progresses, we may be able to open the road at least in one direction providing drivers don’t abuse the one-way system.

“As the piling work and the concrete wall building progresses, allowing time for the concrete to set, we will follow behind building the new kerbs, pavements and road surface, as well as new street lighting and barriers.

"I hope drivers will recognise the very long-term improvements being made here, and adjust as they can to the short-term pain involved to get there.”