Skip to main contentEnter
Join 7,550+ people who care about this town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our work
News

164-tonne transformer to be moved through Ipswich on Sunday

A massive transformer will be transported from Ipswich Docks to Yaxley on Sunday, causing road closures and traffic disruptions. The 71-metre-long vehicle carrying the load will depart at 6am.

Why it matters: The abnormal load will impact traffic and travel for Ipswich residents and those using the A140 and A14 on Sunday.

The big picture: This is the second attempt to move this transformer after a previous postponement. The operation involves coordination between multiple agencies to ensure safety and minimise disruption.

Key details:

  • The 164-tonne transformer is being moved for Conrad Energy and National Grid

  • The A140 will be closed for several hours from late morning

  • A temporary overbridge will be installed at Brockford

  • The A14 eastbound will face a rolling roadblock mid-morning

What to watch:

  • Departure from Ipswich Docks: Around 6am

  • A14 eastbound rolling roadblock: Approximately 10-10:30am

  • A140 closure: Expected 11am to 6pm (subject to change)

Road restrictions:

  • Parking and weight limit restrictions along the route

  • Suspension of double yellow lines

  • Closure of Derby Road, Tomline Road, and St Matthews Street subway in Ipswich

  • Parking restrictions on Old Norwich Road in Ipswich and Whitton as a contingency

Be smart: To minimize disruption, avoid the affected areas if possible. Depending on the abnormal load's position, small vehicles may be allowed to cross the A140 between A14 and A1120.

What they're saying: Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding, said: "It is good news that Suffolk Highways has been able to facilitate the rescheduled abnormal load move. The team will continue to support future abnormal loads ensuring these are carried out safely and with minimal impact on Suffolk's residents."

The bottom line: Residents and travellers should plan ahead and avoid the A140 and A14 if possible on Sunday.

You can read it for free thanks to the generous support of Start, Build & Grow and ICS

Despite a lack of promotion, the big reveal drew a good crowd of passersby

We're regenerating Ipswich – but we can't do it without you!

People tell us every day that our work matters – that it's making Ipswich better; that it's needed. But our work costs money, and unlike the Ipswich Star, we're not funded by national advertisers or owned by corporate US overlords. For just £4.75 a month, you can help fund our mission to restore pride of place and accelerate the much-needed regeneration of the town we call home.
Become a member →

In other news...

News

GP contract promises faster care – but will it deliver for Ipswich?

The government says a new GP contract will guarantee same-day urgent appointments and boost childhood vaccination rates, but the British Medical Association has warned it risks creating "unrealistic expectations" given how stretched services already are.
by
Continue reading →
News

Teen found guilty of the manslaughter of Andrew Roche

A teenage boy has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Andrew Roche, 42, following an altercation in the Whitehouse area of Ipswich last summer.
by
Continue reading →
News

Suffolk County Council approves plan for two joint chief executives

Suffolk County Council has approved plans to appoint two joint chief executives to lead the authority through local government reorganisation, following the departure of current chief executive Nicola Beach at the end of March.
by
Continue reading →
News

Lovisa opening marks second tenant for revived Grimwades building

Global fashion jewellery brand Lovisa has opened in the former Grimwades building on the Cornhill, becoming the second ground-floor tenant in the landmark property that sat empty for over a decade before the council acquired the building using Towns Fund money.
by
Continue reading →
News

New exhibition to celebrate disability history

A new exhibition exploring the lives, achievements and challenges of disabled people in Suffolk opens at The Hold in Ipswich on Thursday, 27 February 2026.
by
Continue reading →
Feature

'You might just save that person's life': Students take on 24-hour CPR marathon

More than 50 University of Suffolk paramedic students are performing continuous CPR for 24 hours to demonstrate that using the yellow and green defibrillator boxes found across Ipswich is straightforward, with the ambulance service providing step-by-step guidance to anyone who calls 999.
by
Continue reading →
News

Council approves £38m aquatics centre plan

Ipswich Borough Council has approved a £38 million aquatics centre as part of its £70 million four-year capital programme – but questions are already being raised about whether it will ever be built.
byand
Continue reading →
Feature

Suffolk's aging population faces predatory marriage threat

As Suffolk's population grows older, local legal experts are warning families about a disturbing trend that could rob vulnerable relatives of their life savings through marriages designed purely for financial gain. New data reveals widespread public concern about gaps in current inheritance laws that leave elderly people exposed to exploitation.
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
Our journalism is free thanks to
Our journalism is free thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
7,550+ people are already loving it