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

Speed limit and lane closures announced for Orwell Bridge

A 40mph speed limit and overnight lane closures will be in place on the Orwell Bridge next week as National Highways continues maintenance work.

The details:

  • A 40mph speed limit was introduced Friday afternoon (29 November) and will remain in force on the westbound carriageway until 06:00 on Friday 6 December.

  • Lane closures will be in place overnight between 20:00 and 06:00 on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 December.

  • The restrictions only affect the westbound carriageway.

  • Works are part of the next phase of maintenance to the bridge joints.

The Orwell Bridge in Ipswich
A 40mph speed limit and overnight lane closures will be in place on the Orwell Bridge next week(Rob AthertonGetty Images)

Planning ahead: National Highways has scheduled the work to begin after Ipswich Town's home match against Crystal Palace on 3 December to avoid disrupting supporters.

What they're saying: "We understand the impact that any reduction in capacity on the Orwell Bridge can have to those who rely on this iconic and important piece of road infrastructure," said Steven Thulborn, National Highways head of planning and development. "Our work here is vital for the long-term operation of the bridge."

The background: These works follow maintenance carried out in September when a bridge joint was found in a "potentially unsafe condition," which led to heavy delays around Ipswich.

Bottom line: Drivers travelling westbound across the bridge are advised to allow extra time for their journeys while the restrictions are in place.

You can read it for free thanks to the generous support of Insight Energy and Ellisons Solicitors

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