Is the Orwell Bridge Closed Today?
Status at 22:26 UK time, Mon 2 Nov 2026: 1 item reported for the Orwell Bridge: planned lane closure in force now on the A14 (A14 eastbound between J55 and J56). Source: National Highways planned closures (updated 21:47) and National Highways incidents (updated 22:16). Confirm with National Highways before you travel. Wind forecast: gusts up to 30 mph in the next 48 hours (Wed 11:00), below the 50 mph level where National Highways brings in a 40 mph limit.
The Orwell Bridge carries the A14 over the River Orwell just south of Ipswich, about 40 m above the water. It is the main route to the Port of Felixstowe, and it is the most-searched UK bridge when a storm is forecast.
Closures and incidents reported now
- Planned lane closure in force: A14 eastbound · A14 eastbound between J55 and J56 (Mon 2 Nov 20:22 – 05:00) · National Highways
Planned closures in the next 48 hours
| When (UK time) | What |
|---|---|
| Mon 2 Nov 20:22 – 05:00 | Lane closure A14 eastbound · A14 eastbound between J55 and J56
A14 eastbound Jct 55 to Jct 56 lane closure |
Wind gust risk, hour by hour
No trigger reached in the next 48 hours. Max gust 30 mph from the E (Wed 11:00).
| UK time | Risk | Gust | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 22:00 | No trigger reached | 17 mph | 9 mph N |
| Tue 01:00 | No trigger reached | 14 mph | 7 mph N |
| Tue 04:00 | No trigger reached | 17 mph | 9 mph N |
| Tue 07:00 | No trigger reached | 16 mph | 8 mph N |
| Tue 10:00 | No trigger reached | 20 mph | 10 mph NE |
| Tue 13:00 | No trigger reached | 18 mph | 10 mph NE |
| Tue 16:00 | No trigger reached | 20 mph | 10 mph NE |
| Tue 19:00 | No trigger reached | 14 mph | 7 mph NE |
| Tue 22:00 | No trigger reached | 20 mph | 10 mph E |
| Wed 01:00 | No trigger reached | 17 mph | 9 mph ENE |
| Wed 04:00 | No trigger reached | 20 mph | 10 mph ENE |
| Wed 07:00 | No trigger reached | 18 mph | 9 mph ENE |
| Wed 10:00 | No trigger reached | 30 mph | 15 mph E |
| Wed 13:00 | No trigger reached | 28 mph | 14 mph E |
| Wed 16:00 | No trigger reached | 21 mph | 11 mph ENE |
| Wed 19:00 | No trigger reached | 18 mph | 9 mph ENE |
What triggers a closure or a ban
| Trigger | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Low winds | Normal 60 mph limit stays in place. | National Highways: The Orwell Bridge checked 2026-11-02 |
| Wind speeds forecast over 50 mph | 40 mph speed limit on the bridge. | National Highways: The Orwell Bridge checked 2026-11-02 |
| Wind speeds of 60 mph or more predicted | Bridge closed to all traffic. | National Highways: The Orwell Bridge checked 2026-11-02 |
| Before 25 January 2021 | The old rule closed the bridge for gusts of 50 mph or more from certain directions, or 60 mph from any direction. National Highways changed it so the bridge stays open more often. | National Highways: The Orwell Bridge checked 2026-11-02 |
National Highways' Orwell Bridge page does not name the diversion route. When the bridge is shut, A14 traffic is signed through Ipswich; follow the yellow diversion signs and expect long queues on the town's roads.
Official status pages
Orwell Bridge — FAQ
Is the Orwell Bridge Closed Right Now?
Is the Orwell Bridge closed tonight?
What wind speed closes the Orwell Bridge?
Is the Orwell Bridge still closed?
What is the diversion when the Orwell Bridge is closed?
Sources and method. Planned closures: National Highways Road and Lane Closures API (England, refreshed hourly). Live incidents: National Highways, Traffic Wales and Traffic Scotland feeds (every 15 minutes), matched by road number and a small box around each structure. Weather: Open-Meteo forecast API, CC BY 4.0, refreshed hourly. Risk levels apply each operator's published rule to the forecast gust (or our own bands where no rule is published, marked as ours); they are a guide, not an operator decision. A wind closure is often decided within the hour and can reach the feeds late, so always check the operator. Rules checked 2 November 2026.