Why it matters: It is estimated that the cost to the local economy for each day the bridge is closed is around £1 million. The letter, coordinated by Ipswich Central and seen first by this publication, is signed by senior executives from Birketts, Willis Tower Watson, University of Suffolk, Suffolk New College, OCS, Ashtons Legal LLP, Barnes Construction, TRU7 Group and Associated British Ports, that collectively employ over 3,000 people in Ipswich and generate over £100 million in GDP, giving significant weight to their call for action on the town's chronic traffic problems.
The big picture: The open letter represents an unprecedented intervention from major employers who have watched employees endure journeys of up to two and a half hours during recent Orwell Bridge maintenance work – trips that would normally take 20 minutes.
The employers' letter follows the launch of Ipswich MP Jack Abbott's petition for a northern bypass, which has attracted 1,945 signatures at the time of publication.
What they're saying: "We have all seen employees stuck in traffic for up to two and a half hours on their journeys to work," the employers state in their letter. "Quite apart from the loss of productivity caused by their lateness, being stuck in traffic in hot weather isn't good for people's wellbeing or work-life balance."
The signatories warn they are "genuinely concerned that, in the long term, Ipswich will lose out to other regions when it comes to recruiting and retaining the very best employees who are vital to our success."
What they're demanding: While employers acknowledge that bridge maintenance is necessary and that contractors have minimised disruption where possible, they argue that repeated closures demonstrate fundamental flaws in the current transport network.
The businesses are calling for either:
Reopening of discussions on a northern bypass, or
A clear and practical alternative solution to remove the single point of failure created by the Orwell Bridge
The chamber's view: The intervention comes as the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has also ramped up pressure for action, referencing its recent "Broken Down" report, which evidenced the negative impact of A14 delays on business activity and future investment plans.
Suffolk Chamber is calling for a Government taskforce to explore options for adding capacity to regional roads, stating: "Doing nothing about the A14 across Suffolk, but especially around Ipswich, is not an option."
On the specific issue of the northern bypass, the Chamber has maintained its carefully balanced position. While supporting calls for investigations into the Ipswich Northern Route to be "worked up asap," it warns against getting "too trapped into any binary long-term choices" that could prevent progress on short and medium-term improvements.
The Chamber believes "no viable option that minimises delays and disruptions should be ruled out" and supports investigations into the northern bypass options – particularly as the three initial proposals from Suffolk County Council are "now at least five years out of date."
However, it emphasises avoiding debates that result in "nothing being done to advance the short and medium-term improvements, as everything comes to rely on one long-term single solution."
What's next: The employers' letter significantly strengthens the growing coalition demanding action on Ipswich's road network.
MP Jack Abbott, who also holds the position of Mission Champion for the East of England, is expected to continue his push for the bypass as the only viable solution to our town's traffic woes.
The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, meanwhile, says it stands ready to convene a summit of stakeholders similar to last year's Suffolk Convention to work with Government on "this nationally significant issue."
Suffolk County Council has broken its silence on the bypass proposals, with transport cabinet member Chris Chambers telling the BBC that no decision will be made until after elections for a new mayor-led authority in May 2026.
"We're not going to build a northern bypass in a year. It will be the mayor that will deliver a northern bypass," said Chambers.
The new mayoral post would be created as part of the government's devolution plans, which would replace the two-tier county and district council set-up with unitary councils in Norfolk and Suffolk, with a directly elected mayor overseeing both counties.
Local residents and employers will be interested to see how this timeline sits with mounting calls from across the political and business spectrum for immediate action.
The bottom line: With some of the town's largest employers, the Chamber of Commerce, and local MPs all demanding action, pressure is mounting on Suffolk County Council to begin working towards a solution to what businesses describe as an unacceptable and chronic transport crisis that threatens the region's economic future.
