Birchwood Road Bridge (over A12) repairs

Work starts 7 September for 3 weeks

Work will include:

• full A12 southbound closures between junctions 33 (Copdock Interchange) and junctions 29 (Ardleigh Crown Interchange)
• full closures on Birchwood Road in both directions
• lane closures on A12 south and northbound carriageways
• temporary traffic lights on Birchwood Road

A12 closure

Monday 7 to Monday 28 September - A12 southbound junction 33 (Copdock Interchange) to junction 32B and A12 southbound junction 30 to junction 29 (Ardleigh Crown Interchange) 

Closed overnight (9pm - 5am).

Diversion 

If you want to travel south on the A12 from Copdock Interchange:

• leave the interchange and join the A14 eastbound
• continue on the A14 to junction 56, Wherstead Interchange
• leave the A14 at junction 56 and join the A137 northbound
• continue on the A137 through Ardleigh to the Harwich Road / St Andrew’s Avenue roundabout
• take the third exit onto St Andrew’s Avenue (A133)
• continue to the Ipswich Road roundabout
• take the third exit onto Ipswich Road (A1232)
• continue to A12 junction 29, Ardleigh Crown Interchange

From here, you can continue your journey south on the A12 or join other local routes 

A12 southbound junction 33 (Copdock Interchange) to junction 32B diversion map.

Birchwood Bridge Road weekend closures

Full weekend closures from:

• 9pm Friday 11 to 5am Monday 14 September
• 9pm Friday 18 to 5am Monday 21 September

Birchwood Road Bridge southbound diversion: 

• continue along Birchwood Road and join the A12 southbound
• continue on the A12 and take the second exit, signposted Old Ipswich Road
• at the end of the exit slip road, turn right onto Old Ipswich Road
  continue south on Old Ipswich Road
• at the fourth T-junction, turn right towards Turnpike Close
• turn right onto Turnpike Close, then join the A12 northbound
• continue on the A12 and take the exit for Park Lane
• follow Park Lane to the junction with Wick Road
• turn right onto Wick Road, where the diversion ends

Birchwood Road Bridge southbound diversion map.

Birchwood Road Bridge northbound diversion:

• continue to the T-junction with Wick Road
• turn left onto Wick Road
• continue to the T-junction with Park Lane
• turn left onto Park Lane and join the A12 northbound
• continue on the A12 and take the exit for Ipswich Road
• follow Ipswich Road onto Gun Hill and then Stratford Road
• continue to the T-junction with Stratford Road and Shoebridge South Hill
• turn right and continue onto Shoebridge South Hill (B1029)
• turn right onto Birchwood Road, where the diversion ends 

Birchwood Road Bridge northbound diversion map.

A12 Lane closures

A12 northbound

One lane closed on:

• Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 September
• Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 September
• Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 September 2026 

A12 southbound

One lane closed 24 hours from:

• 5am Thursday 10 to 9pm Sunday 13 September
• 5am Thursday 17 to 9pm Sunday 20 September

No diversion is necessary during lane closures as one lane will still be open. 

Birchwood Bridge Road temporary traffic lights

Two way temporary traffic lights in operation on:

• Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 September
• Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 September
• Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 September

No diversion is necessary.

We'll maintain access for emergency vehicles throughout works.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can find the latest information on our daily closures page or check for current incidents, disruptions and delays. Our travel alerts give details of high priority incidents on our network.