NUISANCE roadworks are coming to a halt for two weeks, but barriers and cones will remain in place.

For two weeks over the Christmas period, ongoing roadworks in Ipswich Road and Harwich Road will stop.

Contractor Eurovia and Essex Highways will look at trying to reduce the amount of traffic management in place for the festive period, but only if it is safe to do so.

The works will stop on December 21 and workers will return to the site on January 2.

Workers are three quarters of the way through laying electricity cables for UK Power Networks along St Andrew's Avenue.

They had to suspect the bus stop on the Homebase side for a day in order to install the cables.

BT works are also ongoing but the workers say progress has been made.

This week traffic will be directed through various lane adjustments during the utility works on St Andrews Avenue.

The footpath outside Waitrose from St Andrews gardens round to Ipswich Road North will be closed for the first phase of this.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: "No related road closures are planned during the holidays.

"Existing barriers and cones will remain in place as they protect continuing utility trenches and chamber excavations and protect drivers and riders from otherwise potentially dangerous sudden merging and bottlenecks.

"The contractors will make any modifications to the barriers to help traffic flow that can safely be made.

"The target of December 21 to suspend works depends on getting to stages where, for example trenches and chamber excavations, can safely be closed and left unsupervised.

"Good progress has been made so far.”

Eurovia, the main contractor, does not have any significant work they could do over this period, as they are dependent on the progress made by the utilities contractors.

Eurovia has no control over the utilities, who have their own workforce arrangements. 

The scheme will see the replacement of the double roundabouts at Ipswich Road and Harwich Road with a single roundabout at each location.

The carriageway between Ipswich Road and Harwich Road junctions will also be widened to two lanes in each direction.