Overview

• National Highways has announced a seven-week maintenance project on the A14 Orwell Bridge, replacing two aging westbound expansion joints to ensure long-term safety.
• The work is scheduled to begin in late June and conclude by mid-August, with traffic sharing the eastbound carriageway under a contraflow system to maintain flow in both directions.
• Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has called for Suffolk County Council to delay non-essential roadworks during this period to reduce cumulative traffic disruption in the area.
• The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has criticized the short notice for the project, urging longer lead times for future maintenance to allow businesses to plan effectively.
• The new bridge joints are designed to last 50 years, aiming to prevent future short-notice closures and ensure the bridge’s resilience as a key freight and commuter route.