David Ruffley MP has today spoken of his outrage at the current state of the A14 and taken the matter up with the Highways Agency Chief Executive, Archie Robertson.

David Ruffley has campaigned for improvements to Suffolk's major trunk road since his election in 1997.

David was a key figure in pushing through the Rookery Crossroad improvements; however, he was left dismayed after Highways Agency blunders saw the changes arrive £2 million over budget and six months late.

Now contractors are set to return to the multimillion pound site to repair subsidence only months after it was officially opened.

12 serious accidents have occurred on the A14 in the last two months.

David is currently investigating road safety issues on the A14 through House of Commons questions to the Secretary of State for Transport and Freedom of Information requests to local County Councils and Police Forces.

David said:

'The A14 is not an 'A' road it is becoming a Joke road.

'Only months after the official opening of the Rookery Crossroads, which arrived six months late and £2 million over budget due Highways Agency blunders, we are now told contractors are to return to the site to repair it.

'I have taken the matter up with the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Archie Robertson, asking him why the subsidence is occurring and what the additional cost will be to the taxpayer of repairing it. It seems ridiculous to me that in a scheme of this size proper checks were not conducted during its construction.

'The people of Suffolk and Bury St Edmunds deserve a first class road infrastructure and should not have to put up with near third world motoring conditions.

'I have tabled a series of parliamentary questions to the Secretary of State for Transport so that I can get to the bottom of the road safety issues that are currently blighting Suffolk's major trunk road.

'As soon as I have the information I have requested I will be leading the charge to ensure that the A14 becomes the road that Suffolk's businesses and residents deserve.

'The questions I have asked are as follows the Secretary of State to answer are as follows:

'How many road accidents have occurred on the A14 in each year since 1997?

'What has the volume of traffic using the A14 been in each year since 1997?

'How much central government funding, for road safety improvements, has been allocated to (a)Suffolk (b)Bedfordshire (c) Cambridgeshire (d) Essex (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each year since 1997?

'How often (a) one carriageway and (b) two carriageways have been closed for routine maintenance or upgrade on (i) the east bound A14 and (ii) the west bound A14 in each year since 1997?

'How often (a) one carriageway and (b) two carriageways have been closed due to a road accident on (i) the east bound A14 and (ii) the west bound A14 in each year since 1997?

'How many road accidents have occurred on the A14 in each year since 1997 broken down by accidents where a reported contributory factor was (a) road environment (b) vehicle defects (c) injudicious action (d) driver/rider error (e) impairment or distraction (f) behaviour or inexperience (g) vision affected (h) pedestrian only and (i) special codes?

'What was the estimated financial cost incurred by business due to accidents or delays on the A14 in each year since 1997?

'What has been the financial cost of closing or repairing the A14 following road accidents in each year since 1997?

'How many accidents have occurred on the A14 in each year since 1997 broken down by the junction number closest to where the accident occurred?

'How much has been spent on road safety campaigns in (a) Suffolk (b)Bedfordshire (c) Cambridgeshire (d) Essex (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each year since 1997?

'How many road traffic police officers have there been in (a) Suffolk (b)Bedfordshire (c) Cambridgeshire (d) Essex (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each year since 1997?

'List the junctions on the A14 in order of the volume of traffic that uses them.

'List the current planned road safety improvement schemes for the A14 and when these schemes will be completed.

'What proportion of the A14 in Suffolk is covered by overhead lighting?'