A12 scheme budget could increase by £4m

Why it matters: The money would be used to complete the full business plan ahead of submission to the Government, with county councillors expected to make the commitment during next week's cabinet meeting.

The details: According to council papers, increased construction costs have pushed its price tag to £63.6m, up from the £57.4m estimated when it received the authority's approval in 2021, under the previous administration. Roughly half of the £4m investment would be paid from ring-fenced funding, with the rest coming from a Government grant designed for transport enhancement and maintenance.

It is hoped the A12 Major Road Network (MRN) scheme will help with congestion, provide space for future growth and improve conditions for road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. It will include:

• Improvements to several junctions, including at Seven Hills, Barrack Square and Anson Road
• A new dual carriageway section between Seckford Hall Road and Grundisburgh roundabout
• A new footbridge over the A12 at Martlesham, to replace the existing structure built in the 1970s, which no longer meets modern standards

What's next: If the extra funding is approved, a full business case is expected to be completed this summer and submitted to the Government by September.

The other side: Delaying the investment, council papers say, would risk postponing the delivery of the scheme's "transport, economic and growth benefits" while increasing potential conflicts with other major projects, such as Sizewell C.

For context: The Department for Transport has already confirmed it would contribute just over £54m to the project subject to a sound business case. The county council itself is expected to pay about £3.5m of the total bill – £1.5m of which would be borrowed – with a further £6m coming from third-party contributions.

The bottom line: Council papers say delaying the investment would risk postponing the scheme's benefits, as councillors weigh up whether to commit the extra £4m needed to complete the business case ahead of submission to the Government.

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