The East Anglia THREE converter station will be taking delivery of the transformers this summer. Once the windfarm is operational, the transformers will connect the green electricity generated offshore to the National Grid.
Due to the size of the equipment, deliveries will take place under escort which may cause disruption on the following dates:
Sunday 23 June
Sunday 30 June
Sunday 7 July
Sunday 14 July
Beginning at the Port of Ipswich, the delivery route runs south along the A137 Wherstead Road, then west on the A14.
The A14 will be closed eastbound between junctions 56 and 55 to enable to delivery, as the load will travel west using the eastbound lane under police escort. The lane closure is anticipated to take place between 0900 and 1100 each Sunday, though times may change due to the complexity of the manoeuvre.
From junction 55, the route runs north along the A1214, left on the A1071 and north on the B1113 past Sproughton and towards Bramford. The route leaves the B1113, going west on Bullen Lane to the East Anglia THREE converter station site.
Parking restrictions will apply on parts of the B1113 Loraine Way on the above dates.
Traffic management
A temporary overbridge will need to be created over the existing bridge on the A137, to accommodate the heavy load crossing Ostrich Creek. To enable the installation of the overbridge, it will be necessary to close the northbound lane of Wherstead Road from the junction with the B1456 and junction with Bostock Road. Traffic management will be installed on Saturday mornings to enable the overbridge installation and removed on Sunday afternoons, following the delivery of the transformer.
A diversion route will be implemented for traffic which would normally access Wherstead Road from the south.
Wherstead Road will remain accessible from the north. A contraflow system will be implemented to allow traffic to leave both north and south on Wherstead Road.
Businesses and properties on Wherstead Road will remain accessible at all times.