Construction of the Haverhill Relief Road has been completed and the new route is set to officially open to traffic later this month.

An opening ceremony, hosted by Persimmon Homes, will take place on Thursday, September 25, after which the 1.8km stretch of road will open to the public. The new route links the A1307 to the west of Haverhill with the A143 to the north of the town.

Delivered by Persimmon's Suffolk region as part of its Boyton Place development, the relief road represents a significant new piece of infrastructure for Haverhill. It has been designed to mitigate the impact of increased traffic from new housing while providing motorists with an alternative route across the town. Drivers will be able to bypass Withersfield Road, Cangle Junction and Wratting Road, reducing congestion and improving journey times.

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Despite experiencing several delays during construction, including the relocation of a major gas main, the road incorporates environmental and safety measures. These include badger tunnels to protect local wildlife, as well as two signal-controlled pedestrian crossings connecting countryside paths to Boyton Place and into the town centre.

Stacy Brett, Deputy Managing Director for Persimmon Homes Suffolk, said: "We are delighted to reach this key milestone in the delivery of our flagship development in North West Haverhill.

"We would like to thank those living and working in Haverhill for their patience and understanding over the last two years as we have worked to bring this road to fruition.

"The project has suffered from several delays and involved relocating a major gas main. However, with the opening in sight we know residents will soon benefit from improved journey times across town."