Motorists are being warned to expect delays as major flood defence work continues in Lowestoft.

Overnight works will begin next week as part of the £67m Lowestoft Flood Risk Management Project (FRMP).

It will see the A47 Waveney Road in Lowestoft closed for 10 evenings to allow overnight work to be carried out from 8pm on Monday, June 12 to 6am the following morning - with work continuing until 6am on Saturday, June 24.

Lowestoft Journal: The planned closure of Waveney Road in Lowestoft. Suffolk Roadworks map/One NetworkThe planned closure of Waveney Road in Lowestoft. Suffolk Roadworks map/One Network (Image: Suffolk Roadworks map/One Network)

However, the works and overnight closures "will not impact" on the First Light Festival weekend - with tens of thousands of people expected to flock to town.

With Balfour Beatty carrying out the "vital" works, the Suffolk Roadworks map says that "delays are likely" while the work takes place.

It states: "A47 both directions Waveney Road to Station Square - Works under 24 hour footway/carriageway closure for tidal wall scheme on behalf of TMO Highways."

With construction works to reduce the risk of flooding in Lowestoft having been under way since the first phase began in May 2021, the latest works are part of the next phase of the Lowestoft Flood Risk Management Project.

The £67m scheme will see a tidal flood barrier built in Lowestoft’s outer harbour, along with tidal flood walls to the north and south of the barrier, to reduce the risk of flooding to more than 1,500 homes and 825 businesses.

Lowestoft Journal: The advance warning signs for the overnight road closure in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick HowesThe advance warning signs for the overnight road closure in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

A temporary prohibition of traffic order notice from National Highways for the A47 trunk road in Lowestoft said it will allow for "works to install a barrier system and associated works for ongoing improvements to the flood wall defence to be carried out in safety."

It will see the A47 closed on the "southbound carriageway of Waveney Road and Station Square between its junction with Suffolk Road and Pier Terrace" and on the "southbound and northbound carriageways from the junction of Station Square with Pier Terrace" to around 130m "south of the junction with Commercial Road."

With traffic to be diverted during the works, in a letter to businesses and nearby residents detailing the Waveney Road night works, a Balfour Beatty spokesman said: "The next phase of the Lowestoft Flood Protection scheme involves some night works on Waveney Road.

"These works will take place on Waveney Road from Monday, June 12 to Friday, June 16, and from Monday, June 19 to Saturday, June 24, between the hours of 8pm and 6am.

"The works will involve the removal of temporary crash barriers and footpath reinstatement.

"Due to the nature of these works, we need to undertake these at night under a part-closure of Waveney Road.

"These overnight works are a vital step in the development of the flood walls and will also help to minimise disruption to traffic through the town during the day."

First Light Festival CIC - who organise the festival over the weekend of June 17/18 - said in a post on it's Facebook page: "We can confirm that the ongoing Lowestoft Flood Protection roadworks on Waveney Road (starting June 12) will not impact on the First Light weekend.

"The bridge will be fully operational from 6am on Saturday, June 17 through to 8pm on Monday, June 19, meaning the whole town can easily access South Beach all weekend.

"The only impact to our audiences could be for those campers and campervans arriving to our beach campsites from the north of the town on Friday after 8pm, and to those attending East Point Pavilion's Warm Up Party from 5pm to2am.

"Please be aware if you’re arriving from the north of town after 8pm, you will have to detour via Oulton Broad."