Why it matters: Orwell Bridge closures cost Ipswich £1 million per day in losses, according to the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, with the spate of recent incidents bringing the town's traffic issues into sharp focus.
The big picture: Plans for the Ipswich Northern Bypass were abandoned in 2020 due to a lack of "political support". Suffolk County Council's cabinet voted against the proposal, citing funding concerns, while protesters raised environmental objections.
Driving the news: Labour MP Jack Abbott challenged the Prime Minister during Prime Minister's Questions after writing to him about the "absurd" situation facing the town last week and calling for the Northern Bypass to be given national priority status.
What they're saying: Abbott told the House of Commons: "This critical project has been gathering dust for years, repeatedly blocked by people who refuse to act in our long-term interests."
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Abbott warned the Orwell Bridge's lifespan "is now envisaged to be considerably shorter than originally expected, perhaps even as short as 20 years."
Sir Keir praised the MP's "relentless" efforts to boost growth and investment in Ipswich and Suffolk.
"We will fast-track decisions on at least 150 major economic infrastructure projects to kickstart growth, and I will make sure he gets a meeting with the relevant minister to discuss the issues of concern to him," the Prime Minister said.
What's next: The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce will release its eagerly-awaited report on the economic impact of the A14 and Orwell Bridge's shortcomings tomorrow.
The bottom line: With mounting evidence of the economic impact on our town, county and region and renewed political focus, could the Northern Bypass finally move forward after what one local campaigner has described as "years of local inertia"?
