Suffolk Chamber slams Orwell Bridge closure as "bad for business"

Why it matters: The closure of one westbound lane on the A14 Orwell Bridge has caused significant traffic disruption, impacting businesses and commuters in Ipswich and surrounding areas.

Driving the news: The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has written to four local MPs, urging them to:

• Pressure the Department for Transport to investigate the economic impact of bridge closures

• Persuade National Highways to expedite its Significant Structures Scheme

The big picture: The Chamber argues that the A14 around the bridge lacks resilience, with no strategic plan in place to address recurring issues.

What they're saying: "It is yet another reminder that the A14 on either side of Bridge lacks resilience and the current absence of a strategic plan by Government and council policymakers offers no hope that this situation will change in the short to medium term," the Chamber stated.

New initiative: The Chamber has established an Orwell Bridge Research group to demonstrate the impact of inaction on local businesses, particularly in the logistics and haulage sector.

Meanwhile: Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has separately called for immediate action, including:

• Cancelling non-essential roadworks in Ipswich town centre

• Reinstating the Ipswich Transportation Taskforce

Abbott's view: MP for Ipswich Jack Abbott issued a statement saying that now is the “right time for the Ipswich Transportation Taskforce to be reinstated."

And that "a reinvigorated taskforce would have the ability to bring together stakeholders, consult the public and make recommendations to Suffolk County Council and other decision-making bodies about strategic transport priorities in the area."

He also called for the revival of plans for a Northern Bypass.

The bottom line: Both the Suffolk Chamber and local MPs are pushing for short-term solutions and long-term strategies to address Ipswich's transport challenges, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated action.

The full statement from the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

“The current and unforeseen closure of one westbound lane on the Orwell Bridge and the resulting traffic delays in and around Ipswich is quite simply bad for business and bad for every road user affected. It is also reputationally embarrassing for Suffolk. It is yet another reminder that the A14 on either side of Bridge lacks resilience and the current absence of a strategic plan by Government and council policymakers offers no hope that this situation will change in the short to medium term.

“Suffolk Chamber has written to the four MPs whose constituencies are most affected by these repeated gridlocks to both pressurise the Department for Transport for an investigation into the impact on the local and national economy from continued part or full closures of the Bridge and to persuade National Highways to bring forward its Significant Structures Scheme to ensure that the current issue is not repeated again and again.

“In order to jolt local and national policymakers into coordinated action, the Chamber has set up an Orwell Bridge Research group which will demonstrate the impact that the current do-nothing situation will have on the jobs and growth plans of businesses, especially those in the crucial logistics and haulage sector.”