Highways chiefs have moved to reassure campaigners that the type of material to be used to repair the A14 on the Felixstowe peninsula will definitely cut traffic noise.
Villagers said they had been left in confusion after receiving conflicting information about whether or not the new surfacing will be sound-absorbent.
But the Highways Agency has now confirmed that the material will be “low-noise surfacing”.
Andy Dyer, of the Highways Agency, said: “This stretch of the A14 is close to the Port of Felixstowe and we know that the damaged road surface has increased the associated traffic noise in the two Trimley villages.
“This work will repair damaged sections of a two-mile stretch of carriageway and improve journeys while reducing traffic noise for nearby residents.” District councillor Graham Harding said there had been some confusion. One of the main aims of the work was to minimise the sound from the growing number of lorries going to and from the Port of Felixstowe and curb disturbance for people in the Trimley villages living alongside the dual carriageway.
He said: “We were told originally that the surface material would be sound-absorbent but there has been some doubts raised recently and I am trying to get the matter clarified.”
Trimley St Martin Parish Council chairman John Barker said he understood the scheme was supposed to be part of the noise reduction surface programme.
However, there had been conflicting statements and the parish council had been told it would not be low-noise tarmacadam.
Villagers today face the first of four nights of lorry traffic going through the heart of their community.
It’s pain before the gain for people in Trimley St Mary and Trimley St Martin as work takes place on the A14 to repair a pot-holed stretch of the dual carriageway.
While the work is carried out it will mean all traffic being diverted via High Road – including all the lorries from the Port of Felixstowe.
Work will begin at 10pm between the dock spur roundabout and Trimley St Martin on the Ipswich-bound carriageway, which will be closed until 6am.
Further work will take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, each night beginning at 10am and finishing by 4am.
During closure times, road users will be diverted via the A154 and High Road through the Trimley villages to rejoin the A14 west of Trimley St Martin.
Work will involve repairing damaged areas of the carriageway with low noise tarmacadam, as well as the renewal of road markings and traffic counter devices.
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