S30134 A12 A14 Copdock Interchange Gap Analysis

Overview

"The A12 / A14 Copdock Interchange is the key Strategic Road Network (SRN) junction serving Ipswich. It connects the A14 with the A12 towards London and towards the East Coast. Locally, it provides access to the town's main Park & Ride site, out-of-town retail park and regional Sixth Form College. The scheme will reduce journey times and congestion on the strategic routes connecting the Southeast, Midlands East, Anglia and, particularly, the port of Felixstowe. Congestion and safety concerns at A12 / A14 Copdock Interchange were identified in Route Strategy reports from March 2017 and April 2014, with the junction experiencing high collision clusters and severe queuing during peak periods. Initial Stage 0 work in 2018 recommended options for improvements and as a result, work commenced to develop a scheme under Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) Pipeline Port Access scheme. A number of possible solutions were considered during PCF Stage 1 and two options were then taken forward into PCF Stage 2. A non-statutory public consultation held in the autumn of 2021 and following the consultation, further assessments and consideration of alternatives was undertaken. A recommended option was selected, which was still subject to approvals, for a Preferred Route Announcement (PRA). In the Autumn of 2022, the decision was made to pause the A12 / A14 Copdock Interchange project. Scheme has been included in RIS3 as part of the pipeline of potential schemes for RIS4. The Client's objectives for this contract are to: - undertake a gap analysis of existing scheme information to support the planning of PCF Stage 2 of the A12/A14 Copdock Interchange scheme - agree the Strategic Drivers for the scheme - enable development of the SDF Framework contract specific scope for the appointment of a Technical Advisor through the SDF Framework - prepare a detailed scope of work for traffic data collection to enable data collection to be undertaken in October 2026.