Weeks of disruption on A140 amid work on McDonald’s and BP service station
Motorists have experienced delays on the A140 Scole bypass and face more disruption amid work on the new service station. Picture: Simon Parkin - Credit: Simon Parkin
Motorists are facing weeks of fresh disruption on the A140 amid a series of roadwork projects and the construction of a new slip road into a controversial new service area.
The half finished slip road into the new BP service station and Mcdonald's at Scole that will be linked to the A140 in March. Picture: Simon Parkin - Credit: Simon Parkin
The BP filling station, alongside a new drive-through McDonald's, is currently under construction on land next to the roundabout junction of the A140 and A143 at Scole, near Diss.
The building of a new slip road off the A140 into the 1.45-hectare site, close to the edge of Diss Golf Club, on what was previously an empty field, is set to begin on March 18 and will see one lane of the northbound Scole bypass dual carriageway closed until March 24.
The new BP service station at Scole will see a new slip road off the A140 and exit road onto the A143. Picture: Antony Kelly - Credit: Antony Kelly
Meanwhile the A143 approach to the roundabout will also be closed at night between March 4-17 while the exit from the new service station is being built, including a new central island in the road.
Construction on the service area will follows on from another lane closure southbound for the construction of a new footpath from February 21-28.
Layout of the new BP service area and McDonald's at the A140/A143 junction at Scole that is now under construction. Picture: Mid-Suffolk Council - Credit: Mid-Suffolk Council
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Meanwhile the A143 near the roundabout will also face closures on March 4-5 for the replacement of street lights from roundabout eastwards towards Billingford.
Motorists have already faced lengthy tailbacks in the past fortnight around the A140/A143 junction where new crash barriers have been installed, while the nearby Stuston Lane remains closed until February 15 for work by Essex and Suffolk Water.
Work is progressing on the new BP service service at the A140/A143 junction at Scole. Picture: Simon Parkin - Credit: Simon Parkin
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The location of the new service station proved controversial ahead of being given planning permission by Mid Suffolk Council.
Scole Parish Council stated: 'We accept that there is a demand for a service station with full transport facilities located in the area. However it feels that this location is not ideal and is much too small, with unsafe ingress and egress for all users of the facility.'
The A140 Scole bypass down to a single lane for barriers to be installed with more work set to disrupt traffic over the coming weeks. Picture: Simon Parkin - Credit: Simon Parkin
Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group chair Mike Bootman said: 'We recognise the demand for a full facility service station located midway between the A14 and Norwich and Newmarket and Beccles, however we question whether this particular location is most appropriate for these facilities. It is a cramped site with multiple users being forced into an inadequate space with no provision for HGV drivers being considered a missed opportunity.
'There are also concerns about safe entry and exit so close to this very strategic roundabout and constrictions to traffic flows at a time when development is proposed along the A140 corridor.'
