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A14 Orwell Bridge reopens after inspection truck breakdown

National Highways Broken down vehicle on the Orwell Bridge, at nightNational Highways
National Highways said the underbridge unit "lost hydraulic power, essentially tying it to the carriageway of the bridge"

The Orwell Bridge has fully reopened after one carriageway was closed when a bridge inspection vehicle broke down on it.

The eastbound carriageway was closed between junctions 55 at Copdock and 57 at Nacton earlier

Diversions were put in place resulting in jams on many roads.

The planned bridge inspection was meant to be completed at 06:00 GMT on Friday, but the carriageway could not reopen on time.

National Highways said the vehicle's platform, which lifts engineers over the side of the bridge, became stuck in the down position after the arm lost hydraulic power.

Keeping the second lane of the carriageway open was deemed unsafe, because the vehicle would have been too close to passing eastbound traffic, it added.

A spokesman said implementing a contraflow system - allowing vehicles from both directions to use the westbound lane - would have involved full closure of the road for several hours while it was set up.

John Fairhall/BBC Hydraulic arm over the Orwell BridgeJohn Fairhall/BBC
An element in the hydraulic arm had broken, causing the workers' platform to get stuck in position over the side of the bridge
Andrew Woodger/BBC Traffic queuing beneath the Orwell BridgeAndrew Woodger/BBC
Motorists were stuck in long queues during the morning rush hour, such as here on The Strand at Wherstead, which goes under the bridge

Thursday evening's closure was the latest in a series of 10 planned overnight closures on the bridge running for two weeks until 2 December.

Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said the disruption was "especially frustrating in the run up to Christmas" for town centre businesses.

He added: "Our own refuse collection service has also been badly affected, as well as bus travel, journeys to school, work and medical appointments.

"Ipswich needs the Orwell Bridge to remain operational in order to function properly."

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