| Orwell bridge lane closure 11:00 - Sep 8 with 11391 views | Pinewoodblue |
With one lane, westbound, closed until further notice it is going to cause chaos in Town.
Even in a Sunday morning both Google maps, and my Sat Nav, are recommending travelling via Town centre rather than using the bridge.
Looking into the future there has to be concerns about the life expectancy of the bridge. Before the new section of A14 in Cambridgeshire was opened the old A14 included a viaduct at Huntingdon. This was opened in 1975 and was demolished after the new road opened as it had reached the end of it life.
Hopefully our local MPs are on the case as it takes years to plan and construct new roads. |  |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 11:17 - Sep 8 with 7687 views | EastTownBlue |
Back in the late nineties when they closed one lane on each carriageway for a number of weeks for roadworks that caused long queues in the middle of town and sadly I don't expect any different this time. |  | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 11:41 - Sep 8 with 7640 views | baxterbasics |
We know nobody in authority is thinking about the long term here.
If they were, we would have a NI bypass.
It's insane they have kept knocking it back. |  |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 11:58 - Sep 8 with 7564 views | Churchman |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 11:41 - Sep 8 by baxterbasics |
We know nobody in authority is thinking about the long term here.
If they were, we would have a NI bypass.
It's insane they have kept knocking it back. |
Failure to invest in infrastructure and your economy dies. It’s as simple as that.
Felixstowe is twice the size of any other U.K. container port and it is serviced by a crumbling A road and a rickety (albeit picturesque) bridge. The inadequacy of the A14 and A12 has been known about for years yet there’s been no political will to do anything about it.
The good news is that there are plenty of aggressive, developing ports in the U.K. (e.g. Thames Gateway) that want the business so Felixstowe’s loss will be their gain. The same applies in Europe. If the 100k workers at Calais burn sheep/strike/blockade, lorry drivers literally divert to Antwerp, Amsterdam etc and Calais loses the business. |  | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 12:04 - Sep 8 with 7539 views | wrightsrightglove |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 11:41 - Sep 8 by baxterbasics |
We know nobody in authority is thinking about the long term here.
If they were, we would have a NI bypass.
It's insane they have kept knocking it back. |
And other similar sized places around us have already developed their infrastructure pushing them further ahead of our town. Colchester’s northern gateway is great. And I unfortunately have to travel north of the boarder regularly for work now. The Norwich ring road is exactly what Ipswich needed about 15 years ago. I very rarely have to stop going around the outskirts of Norwich and there’s great segregated cycle and pedestrian paths all the way around it. We really have been failed by our local councils for a very very long time | | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 14:02 - Sep 8 with 7370 views | baxterbasics |
I don't know much about how these things work, but surely something as significant as the Port, A14 and the OB would be a concern for the Department for Transport and can't just be left for the good old boys on the Suffolk CC to decide on?
There doesn't seem to be the political will locally.
Too many NIMBY' tory councillors. Then there's the Greens and their useful idiot friends the LDs who would prefer we all go back to living in caves instead of making any progress. They don't need to muster up many yoghurt-knitters with placards to stage an effective protest. | |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 14:11 - Sep 8 with 7343 views | dickie |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 11:58 - Sep 8 by Churchman |
Failure to invest in infrastructure and your economy dies. It’s as simple as that.
Felixstowe is twice the size of any other U.K. container port and it is serviced by a crumbling A road and a rickety (albeit picturesque) bridge. The inadequacy of the A14 and A12 has been known about for years yet there’s been no political will to do anything about it.
The good news is that there are plenty of aggressive, developing ports in the U.K. (e.g. Thames Gateway) that want the business so Felixstowe’s loss will be their gain. The same applies in Europe. If the 100k workers at Calais burn sheep/strike/blockade, lorry drivers literally divert to Antwerp, Amsterdam etc and Calais loses the business. |
I wouldn't describe the bridge as rickety - it has an estimated lifespan of 120 years so is going to be around for at least another 75. You are right about the lack of infrastructure investment though | | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 14:12 - Sep 8 with 7332 views | Churchman |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 14:11 - Sep 8 by dickie |
I wouldn't describe the bridge as rickety - it has an estimated lifespan of 120 years so is going to be around for at least another 75. You are right about the lack of infrastructure investment though |
Agreed. Inadequate is a more accurate description. | | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 14:47 - Sep 8 with 7263 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 14:12 - Sep 8 by Churchman |
Agreed. Inadequate is a more accurate description. |
What is annoying is they are not giving any indication as to how long the restrictions will be in force. Could be a few weeks, months or indefinitely.
A few years ago now they were working on a way of replacing the bearings, presumably they still working on it otherwise they would have been able to say how long the restrictions would be in force. | |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 19:37 - Sep 8 with 6941 views | stonojnr |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 11:41 - Sep 8 by baxterbasics |
We know nobody in authority is thinking about the long term here.
If they were, we would have a NI bypass.
It's insane they have kept knocking it back. |
which solves nothing, thats why it gets knocked back, | | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 19:42 - Sep 8 with 6932 views | stonojnr |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 14:11 - Sep 8 by dickie |
I wouldn't describe the bridge as rickety - it has an estimated lifespan of 120 years so is going to be around for at least another 75. You are right about the lack of infrastructure investment though |
theres no way a concrete bridge was given a lifespan of 120 years, it has a 50-100 limit at best.
the bearings were always the most likely to go first especially as the bridge has been over capacity for the past decade and vehicles are getting heavier and we havent had the maintenance roadworks for at least the past decade or more. | | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 20:21 - Sep 8 with 6850 views | baxterbasics |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 19:37 - Sep 8 by stonojnr |
which solves nothing, thats why it gets knocked back, |
"Solves nothing?"
How is that possibly true? It solves a lot of things for those trying to get to that end of Suffolk if the bridge is closed or restricted.
Even when the bridge and A14 is functioning, it would mean reduced journey times for many, every day. | |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 20:31 - Sep 8 with 6797 views | Durovigutum |
I spent a lot of time in mid-Suffolk this summer, having not really done so before. There are large parts of the county that are stuck in 1970, A roads that aren't even good enough to be B roads in Cambridgeshire, areas like Kesgrave that are "penned in" by the shocking ability to get anywhere in a sensible time, no sign of any sort of joined up thinking about housing development and suitable infrastructure - tacked or bolted on but without roads or transport to support them. The only thing that is of benefit is more train lines still run than in other parts - but the housing isn't put close to stations (eg the Suffolk show held in a venue where there is a railway line over the road, but with no consideration at any time that perhaps giving people the option to use it to get there might be a good idea so instead the entire area becomes a car park for three days).
It isn't a local MP thing - the County Council is the key entity but seems to be a retirement club (average age is around 60 I am told) and full of Conservatives, who are never going to make the changes needed.
Suffolk is going to be "sleepy" and then just get left further behind - but the elections suggest that this is what the residents want (note that lovely, in touch bloke elected to CSNI). It is bonkers when, as others have mentioned, you look at Colchester, Norwich, Cambridge all on the doorstep and having overcome many of these challenges. |  | | |
| Orwell bridge lane on 20:37 - Sep 8 with 6744 views | dickie |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 19:42 - Sep 8 by stonojnr |
theres no way a concrete bridge was given a lifespan of 120 years, it has a 50-100 limit at best.
the bearings were always the most likely to go first especially as the bridge has been over capacity for the past decade and vehicles are getting heavier and we havent had the maintenance roadworks for at least the past decade or more. |
https://democracy.ipswich.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=2061#:~:te | | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 20:47 - Sep 8 with 6687 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 19:42 - Sep 8 by stonojnr |
theres no way a concrete bridge was given a lifespan of 120 years, it has a 50-100 limit at best.
the bearings were always the most likely to go first especially as the bridge has been over capacity for the past decade and vehicles are getting heavier and we havent had the maintenance roadworks for at least the past decade or more. |
Found this from October 2018, answering questions raised an Ipswich Borough Council. Highways clearly expect the bridge to last 120 years.
The life expectancy of the bridge?
All our structures are made to last for 120 years. This means that the bridges life expectancy should take us past the year 2100. Our Structures Team are currently developing a programme of bearing replacement and maintenance on the bridge. We anticipate that within 10 years, the bearings on the bridge are likely to need to be replaced. The bearings transfer the weight loading on the bridge and allow the bridge to move (the bridge moves, grows and shrinks due to weather conditions etc.). We will ensure that any works on the bearings have a minimal impact on Ipswich by keeping lanes open, working at nights and weekends, where possible.
So they knew 6 years ago bearings were likely to need replacement within 10 years. Incidentally it isn’t one bridge but Theo with a small gap between them as anyone who has sailed under will know.
Would have thought an HGV overtaking ban on the bridge would have reduced the weight bearing down on any particular section of the bridge at any one time. | |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 11:53 - Sep 9 with 6282 views | longtimefan |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 14:02 - Sep 8 by baxterbasics |
I don't know much about how these things work, but surely something as significant as the Port, A14 and the OB would be a concern for the Department for Transport and can't just be left for the good old boys on the Suffolk CC to decide on?
There doesn't seem to be the political will locally.
Too many NIMBY' tory councillors. Then there's the Greens and their useful idiot friends the LDs who would prefer we all go back to living in caves instead of making any progress. They don't need to muster up many yoghurt-knitters with placards to stage an effective protest. |
Trunk roads such as the A14 and the A12 south of Ipswich are not the responsibility of County Councils, they are the responsibility of National Highways. The A12 north of Ipswich used to also be under National Highways but was downgraded many years ago. [Post edited 9 Sep 2024 11:55]
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 12:03 - Sep 9 with 6238 views | baxterbasics |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 19:42 - Sep 8 by stonojnr |
theres no way a concrete bridge was given a lifespan of 120 years, it has a 50-100 limit at best.
the bearings were always the most likely to go first especially as the bridge has been over capacity for the past decade and vehicles are getting heavier and we havent had the maintenance roadworks for at least the past decade or more. |
Good point about vehicles getting heavier too.
Which gives me a wonderful new idea: Ban electric vehicles from ever using the bridge! They are particularly heavy, yes?
This will get the middle class hand-wringers on board for new roads faster than you can say "sustainable hand crafted vegan sandals" | |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 13:09 - Sep 9 with 6110 views | Help |
Northern bypass |  |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 13:24 - Sep 9 with 6052 views | itfcjoe |
What is going on with it, I went over it twice at weekend and again today (11am and 12:30pm) and there is no one working on it at all.
There is one bloke just sitting in one of the 3 Highways vehicles across the closure, 1 down by the Shell garage and 2 at the start of the bridge. |  |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 13:27 - Sep 9 with 6024 views | textbackup |
Did you know there is a track (train like) under the bridge, what was used to transport materials along when building it.
I put a phone line in there years back for the Samaritans and the bloke that let me in gave me a tour of the underside, pretty interesting. |  |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 14:06 - Sep 9 with 5904 views | dickie |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 13:09 - Sep 9 by Help |
Northern bypass |
The previous proposals were single carriageway I believe which unfortunately would be completely inadequate given the amount of housing they were planning on building up to it | | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 14:21 - Sep 9 with 5858 views | hype313 |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 13:09 - Sep 9 by Help |
Northern bypass |
Can't be done now as the land earmarked has been sold off. |  |
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| Orwell bridge lane closure on 15:09 - Sep 9 with 5768 views | The_Major |
I've always thought a tunnel across the estuary between Harwich and Felixstowe would help.
But there's probably more chance of me partnering Woolfy at the back on Saturday. |  | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 15:32 - Sep 9 with 5673 views | soupytwist |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 15:09 - Sep 9 by The_Major |
I've always thought a tunnel across the estuary between Harwich and Felixstowe would help.
But there's probably more chance of me partnering Woolfy at the back on Saturday. |
Interesting, presumably the bits near Felixstowe docks that they've dredged to make it accessible to bigger ships would mean that it would need to be dug quite a long way down.
And the last 11 miles of the A120 to Harwich is single carriageway if you're intention is to get traffic off the A14 and onto the road to the tunnel near Harwich.
Also, have you seen the amount of work it's taken to not yet start building a third Thames crossing near Thurrock? |  | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 16:56 - Sep 9 with 5481 views | The_Major |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 15:32 - Sep 9 by soupytwist |
Interesting, presumably the bits near Felixstowe docks that they've dredged to make it accessible to bigger ships would mean that it would need to be dug quite a long way down.
And the last 11 miles of the A120 to Harwich is single carriageway if you're intention is to get traffic off the A14 and onto the road to the tunnel near Harwich.
Also, have you seen the amount of work it's taken to not yet start building a third Thames crossing near Thurrock? |
The more I think about it though, it wouldn't be the bridge that saw the benefit of a tunnel. Yes, traffic that comes up the A12 would go via Harwich instead of Copdock, but the traffic coming from the Midlands on the A14 would simply keep going to Felixstowe and then take a tunnel.
The road that would see the greatest drop in traffic would be the A12 between Copdock and Colchester. | | | |
| Orwell bridge lane closure on 16:20 - Sep 10 with 5003 views | bluelagos |
Just had to drive from Nacton way through to Chantry and Towen was completely fcked.
Presume this is how it is until they make whatever repairs are needed? |  |
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