Suffolk County Council have opted for local firm Jackson Civil Engineering to build the long-awaited £7m Beccles Southern Relief Road.
This 2km road will stretch from the A145 London Road to Ellough Road to the south east of the town, which together with the B1127 Copland Way will form a southern and eastern bypass to Beccles.
The road will provide an alternative route to Ellough Industrial Estate from the south and west of Beccles for commercial through traffic, helping the estate expand and also aiming to reduce the amount of commercial through traffic in the historic town centre.
Jackson’s technical director Jim Chaplin said: ‘Jackson works on civil engineering projects across the country, but it’s always great to win work on our home turf and build things which will have such a positive impact on our local communities.’
Cllr James Finch, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: ‘Once complete, the Beccles Relief Road will reduce congestion and pollution in the town centre as well as providing an economic boost for the area.
‘The road will be a benefit for motorists, business owners, pedestrians and cyclists – and getting Jackson on board is a positive step in the right direction to getting this road built and open to traffic.’
The project is funded with £5m from the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and £2m from Suffolk County Council. Construction is expected to start in September with construction lasting around 18 months.
Chris Starkie, managing director of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said: ‘The building of a new relief road for Beccles will provide far reaching benefits for businesses and residents in the town and surrounding area. Those benefits can only be enhanced with the selection of Jackson Civil Engineering, supporting a local supply chain and having a further positive impact on the wider economy of the east.’