Live open/closed status for the A14 Orwell Bridge in Ipswich, Suffolk — plus wind, traffic on the span, a congestion map, and diversion routes when it closes. Right now the bridge is reported as open.
A14 Orwell Bridge · Ipswich
OPEN
The bridge is open to traffic.
Updated 30 Aug 2026, 09:15 · auto + weather
10.3mph
Gusts 15.9mph
Light
95 mph vs 95 free-flow
17.8°C
At the bridge
~50 mph
High wind / incidents / works
The A14 span is coloured from live speed on the bridge. For a full area heatmap, open Google Maps traffic.
When the Orwell Bridge closes, A14 through-traffic is sent through Ipswich. Local journeys between the waterfront, Wherstead, and Whitehouse should follow diversion signs rather than sat-nav shortcuts that cut residential streets.
The Orwell Bridge carries the A14 over the River Orwell south of Ipswich. Opened in 1982, the concrete span is about 1,287 metres long and roughly 43 metres above the river. It is a critical link between the Port of Felixstowe and the rest of the UK, with tens of thousands of vehicles using it each day.
Because the deck sits high and exposed, strong winds — especially in autumn and winter — can force National Highways to restrict or close the crossing. Closures push HGVs and long-distance traffic through Ipswich, which is why locals bookmark a live status page before leaving for work or the port.
Automatic mode uses live weather (including wind near the bridge) and traffic flow on the A14 span. When there is a crash, police incident, or confirmed National Highways closure that the sensors alone might miss, Suffolk Daily can publish a manual update — you will see that noted under the OPEN/CLOSED answer, with the reason and any expected end time.
Always follow roadside signs and National Highways advice over any website. This tracker is a planning aid for Suffolk drivers, not an official control-room feed.
Check the live status at the top of this page. Suffolk Daily combines weather, traffic flow and manual incident updates so you can see whether the A14 Orwell Bridge at Ipswich is open or closed before you travel.
The most common reason is high winds — typically around 50mph or more — which can make the crossing unsafe for high-sided vehicles. It also closes for crashes, emergency repairs, planned maintenance and other incidents on the A14 span.
Wind-related closures often last 6–8 hours and stay in place until conditions ease. Incident closures vary: a crash may clear in under an hour, or take much longer if lanes or the whole carriageway are blocked.
A14 traffic is diverted through Ipswich. Westbound traffic typically leaves at Junction 56 (Wherstead) and rejoins at Junction 53 (Whitehouse). Eastbound traffic usually leaves at Junction 53 and rejoins at Junction 56. Follow signed diversions and allow an extra 30–45 minutes or more in peak traffic.
National Highways may restrict high-sided vehicles first in strong winds, then close the bridge fully if conditions worsen. Treat any official restriction as binding — this page summarises open/closed status for planning, not as a substitute for roadside signs or National Highways instructions.
Bookmark this page for a quick open/closed answer, wind and local traffic. Also follow National Highways East on social media and check traffic news if winds are forecast overnight or early morning — many closures start before the morning peak.
It carries the A14 over the River Orwell on the south side of Ipswich, Suffolk, linking the Port of Felixstowe with the rest of the UK trunk road network. It is one of the busiest river crossings in East Anglia.