20th .E2.80.93 21st century Ipswich Road, Colchester

looking west down mainline ipswich road bridge

the road bisected first colchester bypass in 1933, unemployment relief project. railway bridge built in great depression of 1930s, using government funding. 7-ton locomotives used bring sand via light railway pit on harwich road form embankment railway bridge. sand topped clay. bridge crossing great eastern main line underwent major reconstruction in 1957.

on 12 november 1940 colchester bombed german air raids, causing damage in vicinity of ipswich road. in hours of 30 april 1944, crew of 7 on board lancaster um-k2 returning bombing raid on karlsruhe, germany, when engines caught fire, causing fatal crash landing @ space makers safestore on ipswich road. in 2015, memorial service held @ site of crash. in december 2014, 24 world war ii bombs weighing approximately 600 lbs in total discovered @ recycling centre on road. after war, there small private developments off mersea road, west of lexden park, north of colchester north railway station, between ipswich road , railway, , north of east hill . st. john s housing estate built in 1960s, , in 1979, kier group began developing 730 acre high woods site west of road. around 4000 houses , shopping centre subsequently built in vicinity.

a plaque commemorating widening of ipswich road bridge in 1931

the toothpaste tube manufacturer betts opened factory @ no. 505 ipswich road in 1953. in 2008, firm decided close factory , moved smaller premises elsewhere in town. in 2014, bellway homes announced convert former ipswich road factory housing estate named avellana place. locals protested against name, spanish hazelnut, saying more appropriate name after 1944 lancaster bomber crash.

the road part of a12 when road numbers first classified in 1922, , remained main route ipswich motor traffic until northern colchester bypass opened in 1974, extended towards harwich in 1982.