Ipswich MP accuses County Council of “failing to act” on transport chaos
The Ipswich MP is calling for the council to move forward with plans to create a northern bypass
The MP for Ipswich has renewed his calls for urgent action on major transport infrastructure, as Suffolk County Council begins a wide-ranging review of the county’s road and rail network.
Jack Abbott says long-standing congestion problems around the A14 and Orwell Bridge continue to disrupt daily life and threaten economic growth, arguing that decisive action is now unavoidable.
"They're doing long-term harm and damage not just to Ipswich but the surrounding area in our wider county at all."
Speaking during a recent interview, the Labour MP criticised what he described as years of inaction, saying:
“Their (Suffolk County Council) record is a poor one, and I’ve held their feet to the fire. You look at the pothole-ridden state of our roads, the lack of investment in major infrastructure, and it’s a massive problem...
"This is a project of real national significance, and it's not just about some traffic jams in and around Ipswich. There are potentially thousands of jobs on the line and hundreds of 1,000,000, if not billions of pounds worth of investment because of the relation of the Orwell Bridge to the Port of Felixstowe.
"If Suffolk County Council don't proceed with this, they're doing long-term harm and damage not just to Ipswich but the surrounding area in our wider county at all. This is a project of real economic importance."
The comments come as Suffolk County Council has already launched a “root and branch” review of transport infrastructure, examining where investment is needed to create a more resilient network.
The review published in July 2025 followed weeks of severe congestion caused by repair works on the Orwell Bridge, which highlighted what councillors have called the fragility of Suffolk’s road system. On 10 July, the council agreed a package of measures calling on the government to support and fund improvements to key transport routes.
This included resolving that a northern bypass for Ipswich, or alternative interventions, should be reconsidered, alongside a re-examination of possible routes.
"Do the right thing in the long-term interests of people and businesses"
Abbott has been a vocal advocate for a bypass, arguing it is critical for the long-term interests of Ipswich and the wider county. He said:
“We’re seeing chaos on our local road network every single day. We’re seeing the threat hanging over jobs and investment in our local area.”
He acknowledged opposition to the scheme but said no credible alternative had been pursued.
“I fully appreciate that not everyone will always agree with that, but I’ve got to do the right thing in the long-term interests of people and businesses in our local area,” he added.
Suffolk County Council has said the transport review will assess key pressure points across the county, including the A14 corridor, the Orwell Bridge, the Port of Felixstowe, the Sizewell power stations, and rail bottlenecks such as the Ely and Haughley junctions.
Councillor Chris Chambers, the council’s cabinet member for transport strategy, said Suffolk had suffered from a lack of investment for decades.
“This county is crying out for investment in its transport infrastructure,” he said.
However, he cautioned that a single scheme would not solve the issue.
“A northern by-pass for Ipswich alone is not going to be the solution; it may be part of it, but there are other things that need to be done as well.”
The review will also consider future housing growth, funding options, and the role of the proposed Norfolk and Suffolk mayor, as well as how transport priorities could be agreed following local government reorganisation.
Councillor Chambers has also previously written to the Transport Secretary calling for talks on strategic investment, but the government has since confirmed there will be no funding for upgrades to the Ely-Haughley rail junctions in the next five-year funding cycle, a project widely seen as key to moving freight off the A14 and onto rail.
Despite this, the council says it will continue to press for government support, while Abbott says he will keep pushing the issue at both local and national level.
“I think it’s absolutely critical for our local area,” he said. “And I’m unapologetic about that.”
Council's response
We brought this forward to the Suffolk County Council.
Councillor Chris Chambers, the Cabinet member for Transport Strategy, said that a meeting was organised by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce in October involving political leaders, senior policy advisers, and key stakeholders to discuss how to work collaboratively and identify solutions for investigation and funding around capacity and resilience issues on the A14 and Orwell Bridge.
"Mr Abbott did not attend this event, for which as MP for Ipswich, his input would have been welcome," Councillor Chambers added.
"Mr Abbott needs to truly understand and articulate to the Government that Suffolk County Council requires specific answers over future housing requirements, levels of future Government funding and how much the council would need to contribute before it can start to assemble proposals for any future northern bypass - all of which was discussed at that October meeting.
"It should also be remembered that the A14 is a trunk road managed by the Highways Agency and as such it requires a national solution, it is not the sole responsibility of Suffolk County Council to come up with answers over its future resilience."