A ONE-WAY system will be put in place while the latest part of a long-running roadworks scheme is completed.

The £6.5 million Ipswich Road and Harwich Road works, which have rumbled on since September 2018, are set to continue with the replacement of a wall running adjacent to the railway line.

A one-way system, with traffic permitted to travel northbound, will be put in place in Ipswich Road south from Monday, August 3 until Monday, September 7.

An Essex Highways spokesman thanked the public for their “patience and co-operation.”

He said: “To complete this critical phase of works, Essex Highways need to make Ipswich Road south one-way for traffic leaving northbound.

“The carriageway space this will provide will enable the installation of the southern end of the new strengthened cantilever wall, a major part of the new Ipswich Road roundabout improvements.

“We have carefully planned the operation to keep traffic flow possible northbound as this will alleviate congestion for traffic leaving the town whilst the East Gates railway crossing is down.”

The foundations supporting the replacement retaining wall are located below the road, which means sections will need to be included within the construction area.

This will provide a safety “buffer” zone between traffic and workers.

Critics have focused on the time taken to complete the project, and on setbacks which have caused delays.

The coronavirus pandemic halted work for a month.

The first 12 months of work mainly concerned utility diversions, with BT cables, gas and water mains diverted.

Kevin Bentley, Essex councillor responsible for infrastructure, previously said the works were “always expected” to last between 18 months and two years.

The project is nearing completion, with resurfacing and line painting set to get underway.