Ipswich MP Jack Abbott meets with Lilian Greenwood to discuss Northern Bypass and traffic chaos on A14 and Orwell Bridge

A Northern Bypass outside Ipswich may still be on the cards in a bid to tackle traffic chaos on the A14.

Jack Abbott, Ipswich’s MP, met with future roads minister Lilian Greenwood to discuss solutions to constant delays on both the Orwell Bridge and the wider Suffolk road network.

He raised the need for short and medium-term answers to these issues, including upgrades to Copdock Interchange, electrification of the line to Felixstowe and upgrades on the Ely to Haughley line.

However, he made it ‘unequivocally clear’ that the only viable long-term solution would be a Northern Bypass.

Mr Abbott said: “Residents and businesses in Ipswich are, rightly, absolutely sick of the near daily traffic disruption on the Orwell Bridge and wider A14.

“While this can cause chaos on our local road network in Ipswich and the surrounding area, the stark reality is that thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds related to the Port of Felixstowe are on the line, too.”

Mr Abbott previously made representations to the Prime Minister over the issue, who agreed to put him in touch with the relevant minister.

Ms Greenwood is set to take his concerns back to the Department for Transport.

Mr Abbott was among those present for a meeting at Suffolk’s Chamber of Commerce in January, which commissioned a report into the impacts on businesses A14 closures had.

Other attendees included South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge.

Mr Abbott added: “I will continue to make the case locally and in Westminster for the range of critical infrastructure projects we desperately need in Ipswich and Suffolk, including a Northern Bypass.

“After years of these projects being kicked into the long grass, people deserve progress and change.”