Not sure if turning the #A14 into the #M14 would be a miracle cure (a Northern bypass for #Ipswich does make more sense, but won't happen overnight) - either would only provide fairly short term gains, they would soon fill up with traffic!
A wider problem is bad #driving during the time pressures of the rush hour - more businesses should adopt flexible working to alleviate this (the lorry drivers are already working 24/7)
The main impact of the #farmers #protests to me is when I encounter a #tractor on #A14 / #A12 driving at normal speed (which is by necessity and law much slower than a motor car), I am now suspicious even when 90% of the time its very likely to be on the road for genuine #farming purposes around #Suffolk and #Essex (before that I just accepted them as part of the traffic, given I live and work in a semi rural area)
I had a look at the area myself and TBH this seems like a load of middle class #NIMBY s - the #M25 #motorway service station in #Essex would take up a relatively small area of "green belt" space (compared to how much actually exists), and is genuinely useful for those driving long distances especially for those who have another few hours journey left along the # A12 / #A14
https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/brentwood-residents-fear-new-m25-9918772
#Farmers #tractor #protest on #A14 in #Suffolk had near 0 extra effect on #traffic congestion in spite of attracting 65 tractors - it didn't even light up the traffic maps in red any more than a usual day in #Felixstowe - they licked Suffolk Constabulary's boots to hold the protest and "didn't want to behave like Just Stop Oil" and cause even the slightest disruption, knowing they would lose any public support (they had all gone by mid afternoon)
Apparently this could result in 30% reduction in business for #Felixstowe port, with fewer containers from #Maersk and ships moving to London Gateway Port at #Thurrock #Essex (I wonder if it will lessen the congestion on the #A14 ?)
