Highways England have apologised to residents kept awake by overnight roadworks and taken steps to minimise disruption.

Neighbours along the route being used as a diversion for roadworks on the A14 road between the Trimleys and the Port of Felixstowe have complained on social media after being kept away by lorries trundling by during the night and in the early morning.

Meanwhile, the importance of the scheme has been underlined by business leaders and a county councillor, who has been highlighting the companies by those most inconvenienced.

In a statement on their website Highways England said: "We are sorry for the recent disruption caused by our road works during the last few nights.

"We have reviewed this and would like to make you aware of some changes that will be in place from tonight to help improve this situation.

"We will install additional signing at the Garrison Lane/ High Road West crossroads and at the Garrison Lane/ Candlet Road roundabout. This will divert traffic wanting to leave Felixstowe at junction 60 in advance of reaching the start of our closure and will reduce queuing traffic at this location.

"We will amend our working window from 8pm to 4am to 9pm to 5am. This later start time will ensure our closure begins once traffic has further reduced. Our Traffic Management contractor will be positioned at the traffic signalled crossroad to monitor traffic flow once our closure starts.

"Finally, we will check the traffic signals to ensure there are no fault to the timings of the lights prior to work starting each evening.

"We hope these changes will reduce queuing traffic and disruption at this location. We have asked that our Traffic Management contractor provides feedback each evening for us to review whether any further amendments are required.

"We thank you for your patience while we carry out these essential maintenance works to the strategic road network on the A14."

Although not a Suffolk County Council project, Felixstowe councillor Steve Wiles has been ensuring residents' concerns are being heard, but believes the short term pain will mean a long term gain with less disruption in years to come.

Cllr Wiles told Nub News: "It is good to see that we will be benefiting from part of a national £27.4bn budget for building new road capacity and importantly also maintaining and improving strategic road networks.

"The intended work will help limit future repairs with a 20+ year life span compared to the normal five to 10 years."

The importance of the work in terms of the strategic approach with Felixstowe among those docks being considered for the future freeports initiative.

Suffolk Camber of Commerce welcomed the improvements scheme but hope more investment will be pumped in by central government.

Andy Walker, Suffolk Chamber's head of policy and research, said: "Although we are pleased to see Highways England investing in the maintenance of Britain's Premier Trade, this just goes to show that the A14 in Suffolk is need of serious upgrades and investment in the longer-term.

"With our ports likely to be even more important come January 1st 2021 when the transition period ends, we need confidence that the A14 in Suffolk will be funded to keep trade moving and help with Boris Johnson's levelling-up agenda."

If you would like to contact us Highways England about this scheme call the Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 or email [email protected].