Orwell Bridge reopening as high winds ease
The county's still expecting heavy rain
National Highways say they're in the process of re-opening Orwell Bridge as wind speeds in the area have dropped meaning it is safe to do so.
It was closed last night as wind speeds reached around 60mph as Storm Ciarán passed through Suffolk.
The eastbound carriageway has just reopened and the westbound is expected to be opened shortly.
Craig Sowden, National Highways Operations Manager for the East Region, said: “Safety is our priority and it while it was necessary to close the bridge last night it has always been intention to get it opened as soon as it was safe to do so.
“To facilitate this we had traffic crews stationed at the bridge ready to work and remove the closure and diversions so we could get traffic moving as soon as possible.
“We appreciate the inconvenience the closure causes so any decision to do that is only ever taken when absolutely necessary.
“I would like to thank road users for their understanding during this period and I am pleased that we have only had to close the bridge for half the time we originally expected.”
Rainfall
While wind speeds have dropped, Suffolk continues to experience heavy rainfall and there are isolated areas of flooding and standing water.
National Highways has these tips for travelling in this weather:
- Check your route before setting off and allow extra time to reach your destination
- Watch out for pockets of standing water and debris and slow your speed as needed