Travel times in Suffolk are likely to increase when essential maintenance work on the Orwell Bridge kicks in next month.
A contraflow system will be introduced in June so that two joints can be replaced on the westbound side of the bridge.
The work should be completed in August and will see traffic sharing the eastbound carriageway, with one lane in use in each direction.
The A14 carries more than 60,000 vehicles a day across the River Orwell in the county.
National Highways said the current joints installed in 1998 were reaching the end of their life and now need to be replaced with new ones to keep the bridge functioning.
Martin Fellows, National Highways regional director for the East, said it fully understood the impact the work would have on businesses: “Safety is always our top priority, and so this maintenance work is vital in helping to ensure the long-term safe operation of the bridge,” he said.
“We understand the impact that any reduction in capacity on the Orwell Bridge can have on those who rely on this iconic and important piece of road infrastructure.
“The new joints are designed to last for 50 years, and completing this work now will help avoid the prospect of future closures being needed at short notice.
“A range of options to carry out these essential works were considered. We have worked closely with Suffolk County Council, the police and many stakeholders and have agreed that using a contraflow system during the roadworks was the least disruptive for road users, local communities, businesses and others who depend on the bridge on a daily basis.”
National Highways added that while the immediate focus is on the westbound joints, a plan is also being developed to replace two eastbound joints in the near future.
