Traffic Mitigation Measures in the Event of Sizewell C Construction
Walberswick Parish Council is a member of the B1125 Working Group established under the Deed of Obligation between Sizewell C and Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk District Council. The purpose of the working group, comprised of Blythburgh, Walberswick and Westleton Parish Council representatives, is to mitigate some of the traffic and road safety issues of the B1125 associated with the Sizewell C construction.
Faced with a minimum construction period of 10-12 years and some 7500 workers travelling to the area daily in addition to thousands of coaches, HGVs and vans, the B1125 will experience hugely increased volumes of Sizewell traffic (heading to the B1122) and “rat running” from the A12. Eventually, the pressure on the B1122 which will be the main route to Sizewell in the initial years, is expected to subside somewhat once the Sizewell C link road is built further south. But all routes – and especially those like the B1125 that allow motorists to avoid an overwhelmed A12 – will see unprecedented volumes of traffic throughout the long construction.
To help mitigate some of the impact, the B1125 Working Group have been working with highway engineers to design schemes to help slow traffic, improve safety, manage heavier flows and discourage “rat running” to the extent possible. A major traffic calming and road safety build is planned for the B1125 at Westleton. At the northern end, it has been proposed to close off the B1125 to the north where it meets the Walberswick Road (B1387) at the Water tower junction so that traffic cannot “rat run” through Blythburgh. Without the closure, it is believed that coming out of Walberswick across the B1125 will be extraordinarily dangerous and difficult, with long tailbacks and compromised safety a daily event. It would also be impossible to protect Blythburgh from massive volumes of traffic that would create very dangerous conditions.
In conjunction with closing the B1125 at the north, the B1387 at the A12 will be widened with separate left and right turn lanes. Turning from the A12 into the B1387 will have new lane markings, signage and “anti-skid” surfacing to handle the much higher number of vehicles. This should also help control the tailbacks that occur, particularly in the summer, behind vehicles trying to turn out of the B1387 into the A12.
The other necessary condition for this scheme to work is for improvements to be made in the quality of the B1387 from the B1125 to the A12. Whilst Sizewell C is not including this within its responsibility, SCC Highways department, as participants in the B1125 Working Group, have confirmed that they are aware of the poor condition of this road and that drainage and curb improvements will be necessary.
Admittedly, many people who live and visit Walberswick will find this closure unwelcome. Unfortunately, the reality is that for those who live or visit here, the building of Sizewell C will be overwhelmingly negative and of long duration and therefore schemes like this will be essential to provide at least some mitigation to the most egregious traffic and safety impacts. WPC is therefore supportive of these proposals.
Timelines and other details are yet to be agreed. However, the representatives of Sizewell C have stated that the intention is to get these schemes in place at the start of construction, particularly when the larger transport mitigation schemes (such as the link road, park and rides, etc) are not expected until later in the project cycle.
Pictures of the proposed modifications to the junctions are below, and they can be downloaded as .pdfs (easier to see) by following this link to A12 Junction picture and link to Water Tower Junction picture