Jack-knifed lorry closed A14 Orwell Bridge westbound

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Jackknifed lorryImage source, Highways England
Image caption,

A jack-knifed lorry caused the road to be closed westbound for about five hours

The westbound section of a major bridge on the A14 was closed for about five hours after a lorry jack-knifed.

Suffolk Police said part of the Orwell Bridge near Ipswich had reopened following a crash between two lorries at about 06:00 GMT.

Fuel spilled on to the carriageway and the road was closed between junction 57 for Nacton and junction 56 for Wherstead.

One driver has been taken to hospital to be checked out, police said.

Image source, Highways England
Image caption,

The driver suffered "minor injuries", Highways England said

The crash caused congestion back to junction 58 for Bucklesham and through Ipswich. Police said the central reservation had been damaged by the crash.

The bridge was closed in both directions on 13 and 14 January, due to high winds.

Image caption,

The closure caused long tailbacks

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt said he had met Highways England to discuss plans to prevent the bridge closure when wind speeds are high.

He said he was encouraged by a report due to be published at the end of the month and described it as being "potentially a game-changer".

The Conservative MP said the situation of the Orwell Bridge was "unacceptable" and the infrastructure was "not where it needs to be", adding "we need a northern bypass".

A consultation on the proposed multi-million pound bypass, which would link the A14/A140 and the A12, ran in the summer.

Opponents claim the scheme would cost the taxpayer millions of pounds, without reducing traffic, and destroy the countryside.

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