Better Transport for West Suffolk

DUALLING THE A11

It has been announced that advance work towards the dualling of the A11 will begin on Monday, so that construction proper can begin on time. Matthew and his fellow MPs have fought hard to secure funding for this much-needed project, and the work will be the culmination of a long campaign by the MPs, local communities and everyone who travels on the road.

Matthew is thrilled with the news:

“People have been waiting for decades to see work start on the dualling of the A11. The A11 through Suffolk is the lifeline to Norfolk and desperately needs to be dualled. I have campaigned for work to begin along with Elizabeth Truss and other fellow MPs of the area, and I am thrilled that we have succeeded. The improved road will be much safer, and will help unlock business potential that has been held back by poor transport infrastructure. I know the news has been welcomed across my constituency, and I cannot wait to see the improvements begin.”

You can listen to Matthew share his delight on Heart FM by following this link.

The work will not just make lives easier and safer for those who use the road, but will bring huge economic benefit to Suffolk – a return twenty times greater than the cost. This success is testament to the many people who have fought hard for this for many years.

WORK ON THE A14

Matthew has welcomed the Government’s decision to invest £20 million in improving the A14 in the Autumn Statement in November 2011. This will make the road more efficient and safer, and is fantastic news for the residents of West Suffolk who are regularly frustrated by congestion and delay.

RELIEF ROAD FOR BRANDON

IMPROVING THE A1307

The next thing is improving transport links to Haverhill, which means at least some of the A1307 needs to be dualled. It is a dangerous section of road, with twice as many deaths as the average trunk A road.

Matthew recently signed a petition calling for local interest and discussions to begin about what needs to be done. You can read more about this story here. Matthew has also raised this in the House of Commons, and it is one of his long-term campaigns.

A bypass for Brandon is also a priority. When an air pollution test was done twenty years ago, the pollution levels of Brandon were among the worst in the country. Since then the volume of traffic has steadily increased. The main road is now constantly used by lorries and vehicles, and a bypass is a necessity for the health and happiness of the town. There have been discussions about possible sources of funding from private development projects. It is vital this planning gains momentum so that a proposal can be put in place as soon as possible.