How we're working for you

We've launched a an engagement exercise on our draft Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan.

Highway infrastructure asset management is recognised as being the most cost efficient means of managing a highway network. Central government has been encouraging this approach for some time and a large element of its funding to local authorities is now linked to taking this approach.

Suffolk County Council has partially used this approach for some time but we are now taking this opportunity to fully implement this way of working, taking on board best practice that has developed over the last 10 years.

Using this approach, our focus will be to prioritise routes that are used more frequently to connect communities and business areas, and to maintain these to the highest possible standard with the resources available. For example, this will mean that we will often treat roads and pavements with a preventative treatment when they appear to be in a reasonable condition to avoid them deteriorating and needing more expensive, and potentially more disruptive works in future.

The improvements to Princes St and Queens St are designed to make this area of the town centre better for pedestrians and cyclists, and reduce the amount of traffic. The new paving matches the style of the streets on the Waterfront and around the Willis Building to help create a flow from these areas into town. Phases 1 and 2 of the works along Princes Street and at Giles Circus are now complete.

Current works: Phase 3

Queens St will be closed from 4 January 2017, for 16 weeks  

Scheme details

The work includes:

• extending the pedestrianised area along Queens Street
• improving cycle access by providing contra-flow cycle lanes along Princes Street, Queens Street and St Nicholas Street
• improving the look and feel of the areas with new paving

Traffic movements will be reduced by:

• removing on-street parking allocation on Princes Street and Queens Street
• limiting access into Queens Street to deliveries and permit holders only

On completion of the works, the new direction of traffic flow will apply.

Suffolk County Council is allocating £10 million of additional investment to a programme of road surface dressing to take place before September 2016.

The funding for this work will come from the organisation's reserves.

This work will help avoid potholes forming in future years, with a particular focus on rural roads across the county.

The programme of work will deliver approximately 3 times more than the usual amount of new surface dressing and will be equivalent to dressing 500km of road surface.

To find out more read our news article about the programme.