Suffolk County Council approves £20.4m five-year transport plan for Ipswich

Why it matters: The plan aims to tackle congestion, improve air quality and make sustainable travel more attractive for Ipswich's residents.

Suffolk County Council says it has developed the transport strategy with specific focus on enhancing walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure across the town.

The big picture: The Ipswich Area Transport Plan identifies key investment priorities to transform how people move around Suffolk's largest town, where currently only 13% of commuters walk or cycle to work, according to council figures.

By the numbers:

• £7,310,000 for Prince Philip Lock Gate Bridge

• £2,000,000 for LCWIP high priority routes

• £1,700,000 for Woodbridge Road walking and cycling improvements

• £1,700,000 for A1156 corridor safety improvements

• £1,567,000 for Nacton Road walking and cycling improvements

• £1,500,000 for Princes Street walking and cycling improvements

• £1,247,950 for Ipswich Hospital to the Waterfront walking and cycling improvements

• £1,150,000 for bus priority on key corridors

• £1,000,000 for town centre walking and cycling improvements

• £300,000 for Bridge Street walking and cycling improvements

• £300,000 for modal integration at transport hubs

• £280,000 for Henley Road to Crown Street

• £125,000 for Upper Brook Street sustainable transport improvements

• £120,000 for Hadleigh Road walking and cycling improvements

• £50,000 for Tuddenham Road active travel corridor

• £50,000 for Westerfield Road active travel corridor

What they're saying: Councillor Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Transport Strategy, Planning and Waste, said: "An efficient and reliable transport network is an important driver of the economy and increasing active travel and environmentally sustainable transport solutions are also critical for protecting and enhancing our environmental objectives."

How it works: The plan sets six key objectives, including making active travel the default for shorter trips, improving bus punctuality, and tackling air quality issues in the town's four designated Air Quality Management Areas.

Between the lines: The transport strategy responds to data showing that 60% of people in Ipswich travel less than 5km to work, highlighting significant potential to shift journeys to more sustainable modes.

For context: The plan comes after extensive public consultation which the council said revealed strong support for decarbonisation of transport, sustainable economic growth, health improvements and creating better places.

The bottom line: Implementation will occur over the next five years through a combination of county council budgets, government funding and developer contributions, aiming to provide more sustainable transport options to Ipswich residents, businesses and visitors.