Weekend of work as A14 bridge scheme nears completion
Drivers around Ipswich are being advised by the Highways Agency to plan their journeys next weekend (11-14 February), as work on the main phase of a project to replace important components on the A14 Orwell Bridge is carried out.
The work will involve lifting an entire section of the bridge deck, weighing around 2000 tonnes, and replacing two bearings on top of the support pier underneath.
The complex procedure is being carried out over the weekend from 8pm on Friday 11 February to 6am on Monday 14 February, and will involve a contraflow and a slip road closure.
There will also be – both before and after the weekend’s work – some overnight traffic restrictions across the bridge and overnight closures of the westbound carriageway and another nearby slip road. Clearly signed diversions will be in place.
Highways Agency construction team manager Peter Smith said:
“The A14 Orwell Bridge is a vital transport link for Ipswich, and is used by more than 60000 vehicles every day. The work we are doing is essential to keeping it in a safe and serviceable condition for years to come.
“We began work on this scheme last July and have planned the work meticulously to keep delays next weekend to an absolute minimum. However this is a large and complicated job, and there is a chance that the work will take longer than expected, so it is important that drivers check the latest conditions before they set out – especially on Monday morning – for example by listening to local radio, or checking the Highways Agency’s website.”
To prepare for the weekend’s work, the westbound A14 over the bridge will be closed overnight on Monday 07 February (and possibly for a further two nights on Tuesday 08 and Wednesday 09 February) while traffic management is set up, and again on Tuesday 15 February (and possibly for a further two nights on 16 and 17 February) while it is removed. Each closure will be in place between 8pm and 6am, when a fully signed diversion route will direct traffic round the north of Ipswich. The entry slip road to the westbound A14 at Nacton will also be closed with a local diversion in place.
The main work will take place between Friday 11 February to Monday 14 February, during which time the eastbound carriageway over the bridge will be closed. The bridge will remain open to traffic in both directions throughout the weekend but will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with traffic using a contraflow on the westbound carriageway.
The eastbound A14 entry slip road at Wherstead will also be closed, with traffic diverted westbound to the Copdock interchange to join the A14 eastbound.
Work will start at 8pm on Friday evening and is expected to be complete by 6am on Monday morning, weather permitting.
Additional overnight single lane restrictions across the bridge in both directions will also be in place as required each night (8pm to 6am) outside the main phase of the work between Tuesday 08 and Thursday 19 February.
For safety reasons a temporary 50mph speed limit will be in place over the bridge, enforced using average speed cameras, whenever restrictions are in place.
Work to prepare for the replacement of the bearings has included taking x-rays of the giant structure and upgrading the crossover points that can be used to set up contraflows over the bridge. The weekend’s work will complete the main phase of the project, with work underneath the bridge continuing until March.
See also:
No comments yet
