Drivers are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys next week as the Orwell Bridge outside of Ipswich is closed for four nights. 

National Highways will resume a structural survey of the A14 bridge, to the south of Suffolk's county town, after work had to be postponed in December after a hydraulics platform got stuck.

The eastbound carriageway of the A14 will be shut between junctions 55 and 58 for the essential work on Monday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 21. 

Ipswich Star: Work had to be postponed in December after specialist equipment became stuckWork had to be postponed in December after specialist equipment became stuck (Image: National Highways)

Closures will be in operation between the same junctions on Wednesday, May 22 and Thursday, May 23. 

The road will be closed between 8pm and 6am on each night. 

Simon Oakhill, senior engineer at National Highways in the East region, said: “We appreciate the impact these closures have so we only use them when absolutely necessary and we also plan them overnight to cause the least possible disruption.” 

A diversion route for the westbound closure will direct drivers to leave the A14 at junction 58, before travelling along the A12 to the A1214 roundabout. 

Drivers will then head west on the A1214 before reaching the A14 at junction 55.

The eastbound diversion route will be the same in reverse.

During the work this month, a specialist hydraulics engineer will on site.

Routine maintenance of signs and signals, a weather station and CCTV will also be carried out at a number of different locations while the bridge is closed, which will reduce the need for future planned closures.

Nearby streetlight work is also taking place. 

When a full closure of the Orwell Bridge is in place, drivers frequently make diversions through Ipswich - which typically cause severe delays throughout the town.