The A11 southbound shuts overnight from Elveden to Fiveways, 28 Sep to 5 Oct. The A14 still closes eastbound at junction 43 every weeknight, to about 9 Oct.

The A11 southbound past Elveden shuts overnight for the second, longer phase of its road markings job from Monday 28 September. It runs to Monday 5 October, weeknights only.

The A14 eastbound is still shut overnight at Bury’s own junction 43 every weeknight. That job started on 7 September and has about two weeks left.

Two one-night closures are new this week. The A14 westbound between junctions 45 and 44 shuts on the night of Monday 28 September. At Newmarket, the junction 37 westbound entry slip shuts on Tuesday 29 September.

This page covers what National Highways and Suffolk County Council have actually published. It was checked on 25 September against the closure report for Friday 25 September to Thursday 1 October, last updated at 3.30pm that day. Then it covers the part that does not change: which junction to use, where to park, and the alternatives to driving.

The A11 closes from Elveden to Fiveways from Monday

National Highways is refreshing road markings and studs and laying high friction surfacing on the A11 southbound between the Elveden Bypass and the Fiveways Roundabout. The first phase, Elveden Bypass to the London Road Roundabout, began on 23 September. Its last booked night is tonight, Friday 25 September, 8pm to 6am.

The second phase is the longer one:

  • Monday 28 September to Monday 5 October: the A11 southbound is shut between the Elveden Bypass and the Fiveways Roundabout, overnight, weeknights only.
  • The closure report books it for Monday 28, Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 September and Thursday 1 October, 8pm to 6am. It is not booked on the weekend of 26 and 27 September.

The diversion takes southbound traffic away from Bury, not through it. Drivers pick up the A134 north to Mundford, head south on the A1065, and rejoin the A11 at the Fiveways roundabout (National Highways, closure report).

The scheme page still gives an end date of 9 October in its header, while its closure list stops on Monday 5 October. The listed closures are the ones to plan around.

National Highways says an average of 28,000 to 30,000 vehicles use this stretch of the A11 every day. That includes 2,000 to 2,500 lorries southbound, which it describes as well above average for an English A road.

The A14 eastbound is still shut at junction 43 every weeknight

National Highways is resurfacing the A14 eastbound between junction 43 (St Saviours, Bury St Edmunds) and junction 51 (Beacon Hill, Needham Market). It is the final phase of a £20 million maintenance scheme that has been running on the A14 since September 2025.

  • It started on Monday 7 September 2026.
  • It runs for five weeks, weather permitting, so to roughly 9 October.
  • Closures are overnight, 8pm to 6am, weeknights only.
  • They are phased, so not the whole 30 miles every night.

The closure report for 25 September to 1 October books it for Friday 25, Monday 28, Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 September and Thursday 1 October. It is not listed on the weekend.

The signed diversion leaves the A14 at Bury’s own junction:

  • exit the A14 eastbound at junction 43 and join the A143
  • continue north on the A143 towards Scole
  • at the A143/A140 roundabout take the third exit onto the A140 southbound
  • continue on the A140 to rejoin the A14 at junction 51

That is a long way round. It puts eastbound A14 traffic, including Felixstowe port lorries, onto the A143 at Bury every weeknight (National Highways).

Two one-night A14 closures next week

Neither of these has a scheme page. Both appear only in the closure report.

  • Monday 28 September, 8pm to 6am: the A14 westbound between junction 45 (Rougham) and junction 44 (Moreton Hall) is shut, for communications work. The report does not give a diversion route. If you come home westbound late that night, expect to be taken off before Moreton Hall.
  • Tuesday 29 September, 9pm to 5am: the junction 37 westbound entry slip at Newmarket is shut, for drainage. That is the slip you use to join the A14 towards Cambridge at Newmarket, about 13 miles west of Bury.

Last week’s hedge-cutting closures of the Newmarket slip roads, on 22 and 23 September, are not in the new report.

What is booked, and for how long

Overnight closures and longer orders near Bury St Edmunds, late September to October 2026 Timeline as at 25 September 2026. A14 eastbound junction 43 to junction 51, weeknights, started 7 September and running to about 9 October. A11 southbound Elveden Bypass to Fiveways Roundabout, 28 September to 5 October. A14 westbound junction 45 to 44, one night, 28 September. A14 junction 37 westbound entry slip at Newmarket, one night, 29 September. A1088 at Ixworth, proposed order from 5 October to 18 December with a 40mph limit. A14 junctions 38 to 42 resurfacing, paused since August with no return date. The A11 phase two starts Monday; the A14 keeps shutting at J43 Published closures near Bury St Edmunds. Bars show the advertised or booked span. 21 Sep 28 Sep 5 Oct 12 Oct 19 Oct today, 25 Sep A14 eastboundJ43 to J51 since 7 Sep, weeknights to about 9 Oct A11 southboundElveden to Fiveways 28 Sep to 5 Oct A14 westboundJ45 to J44 one night, 28 Sep A14 J37 Newmarketwestbound entry slip one night, 29 Sep A1088 Ixworthproposed order 5 Oct to 18 Dec, 40mph, closure dates not given A14 J38 to J42resurfacing paused since August, no return date published Source: National Highways scheme pages, the closure report for 25 Sep to 1 Oct 2026, and Suffolk County Council's notice of 24 Sep. Graphic by The Bury St Edmunds Post
Graphic by The Bury St Edmunds Post

The Kentford to Bury resurfacing is still paused

The scheme that matters most locally, resurfacing the A14 between junction 38 (Kentford) and junction 42 (Bury St Edmunds), has still not restarted.

National Highways advertises it as running “from Spring to Summer 2026”. Checked again on 25 September 2026, the project page carries what it has carried since August: the July and August nights, and the line that work stopped for the weather. In the organisation’s own words, “With cooler temperatures now forecast, we’ll return to complete our work on the A14 between Kentford and Bury St Edmunds” (National Highways).

No return date has been published. Nothing is booked between junctions 38 and 42 in the closure report for 25 September to 1 October either.

When the resurfacing does come back, the eastbound diversion is a long one: north on the A11 almost to Thetford, round the London Road roundabout, back south through Elveden onto the A134, and into Bury on Compiegne Way to rejoin at junction 43.

West on the A14 and A11

Three restrictions west of the district are worth knowing about. None of them is in West Suffolk.

Still no weekend closures near Huntingdon. National Highways gave notice on 12 September that it intended to close the A14 between junction 21 (New Ellington) and junction 24 (Swavesey), about 45 miles west of Bury, for full weekends from 18 September (notice). They did not start that weekend. The report for 25 September to 1 October books no A14 closure of any kind on Saturday 26 or Sunday 27 September either. An order gives permission; the report gives the nights.

The A14 at Cambridge is narrowed until roughly December. A National Highways traffic order made on 24 August covers the A14 between junction 33, Milton, and junction 35, Stow cum Quy. It runs 24 hours a day for around four months: 40mph and 50mph limits in both directions, and every layby between the two junctions closed (notice). The report also shuts the A14 westbound from junction 35 to junction 33 on the night of Thursday 1 October.

The A11 at Stump Cross, in Cambridgeshire, loses two slips on Wednesday night. The southbound exit slip and the northbound entry slip there are both shut on the night of 30 September, 8pm to 6am. The 40mph limit National Highways put on after a damaged safety barrier in August (notice) has had no revocation notice on the Public Notice Portal, so we cannot confirm it has lifted.

Local roads: last week’s five did go ahead

The five closures that were only proposals when this page was last updated all became made orders. Risby, Wickhambrook and Moulton Road were confirmed in Suffolk County Council’s notice of 19 September (19 September notice). Chevington and Winthrop Road, Bury St Edmunds were confirmed on 21 September (21 September notice). All five were booked to finish by 24 September.

From Monday 28 September: five proposed closures

The council’s notice of 17 September added five for this district. By its notices of 19, 21, 23 and 24 September, none of them had yet been confirmed as a made order, so treat the dates as the plan rather than the decision.

  • Bridge Street, Moulton, near Newmarket, closed along its whole length, 28 September to 2 October, 8am to 5pm, for water pipe works. Diversion via Gazeley Road, Moulton Road, The Street, the B1085 and Dalham Road.
  • Bury Lane, Stanton, about 9 miles north east of Bury, from the Sturgeon Way junction for 150 metres, 28 September to 17 October, for a new gas connection. There is no diversion route.
  • B1066 Bury Road and The Green, Brockley, about 6 miles south, 28 September to 16 October, for a fibre network. Diversion via the B1066, the A1092, the A134, the A1302 and the A143.
  • Tuddenham Road, Cavenham, from the Breen asphalt plant for 50 metres, 28 September, 8am to 5pm, for water ducting.
  • Station Road, Little Saxham, for 20 metres either side of the level crossing, 10pm on 28 September to 5am on 29 September, for rail bridge inspections. Diversion via Bury Road, Barrow Hill, The Street, Coalpit Lane, the A14 and Newmarket Road (17 September notice).

New this week: two Bury closures and a long one at Ixworth

Suffolk County Council’s notice of 24 September adds seven for the district. All are orders it intends to make (24 September notice, Lakenheath notice).

In Bury St Edmunds itself:

  • Kings Road, from the Prospect Row junction for 50 metres eastbound, Tuesday 6 October, 7.30am to 5pm, for manhole repairs. Diversion via St Andrews Street South and the A1302.
  • The Angel Hill footway, from the War Memorial for 10 metres southbound, 5 to 7 October, for a new water connection. Walkers use Angel Hill itself.

Elsewhere in the district:

  • A1088, Ixworth, about 6 miles north east of Bury, from the A143 junction to the Bardwell Road junction, for S278 works to install new streetlights. The order runs 5 October to 18 December and does not say which days the road itself will be shut. There is a 40mph limit on the A1088 from 5 October to 12 December. From 14 to 16 December, 8pm to 5am, a 40mph limit also covers Walsham Road and 100 metres of the A143 either side of the Ixworth roundabout. Diversion via the A1088, the A1066, the A11, the A134 and the A143.
  • B1085 Kennett Road, Moulton: a 30mph limit for 800 metres south of Grange House, 5 to 9 October, for civil works.
  • Highlands and Highfields, Lakenheath, about 14 miles north west, 5 to 13 October, for a fibre network. Diversion via Highfields, Cemetery Road, Mill Road, the B1112 and Broom Road.

Two more came in the council’s notices of 21 and 23 September:

  • Hundon Road, Kedington, near Haverhill, 45 metres east of Dash End Lane, from 8am on 3 October to 4pm on 4 October, again on 5 October, 9.30am to 2.30pm, and on 10 October, 8am to 6pm, for electrical works (23 September notice).
  • Footpath 7, Dalham, for 1,500 metres north of Brick Wood, 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, for harvesting and tree felling. Walkers go from Brick Kiln Wood to Desning Hall to Blue Button Wood (21 September notice).

Local roads: the ones already running

These are made orders, dated as the council advertised them:

  • Bennett Avenue, Bury St Edmunds, from the Newmarket Road junction for 10 metres westbound, 7 September to 5 October, for gas mains replacement. Diversion via Oliver Road and Newmarket Road.
  • Dettingen Way, Bury St Edmunds, from the Newmarket Road junction for 30 metres southbound and from Hal Leonard for 30 metres southbound, 14 September to 5 October, then again 17 October to 7 November. Same gas job.
  • The Green, The Street and Heath Road, Hessett, 7 September to 27 October, for a water main.
  • Linkwood Road, Little Whelnetham, from Bury Road for 800 metres northbound, 7 September to 16 October, for waterworks.
  • Church Hill and Pakenham Road, Thurston and Pakenham, 1 September to 2 October, for fibre.
  • Church Road, Brandon, from the A1065 for 300 metres westbound, until 28 September, for a gas main.
  • Footpath 2, Brandon, in two sections off Victoria Avenue and Coulson Lane, 14 September to 9 October, for gas main replacement.

Two footpath closures run for months. Footpaths 13 Great Livermere and 3 Little Livermere are shut from the Bury Road junction for 1,330 metres westbound until 29 January 2027, because of fallen trees and unsafe footbridges. Footpath 3 at Santon Downham, near Brandon, is shut for two kilometres southbound until 29 January 2027 for sewage works.

Roadworks lists go stale within days. For the live picture, Suffolk County Council publishes every permit on one.network, and National Highways covers the A14 and A11 themselves.

Haverhill bus station and Jubilee Walk car parks from 5 October

In Haverhill, about 14 miles south west of Bury, West Suffolk Council is resurfacing the bus station lane and both Jubilee Walk car parks. It is spending close to £152,000 of car park income on the job (West Suffolk Council).

  • From Monday 5 October both Jubilee Walk car parks and the bus lane close.
  • The bus lane takes about five days. Buses use temporary entrances into the main car park and stop beside the existing shelters, so you board from the other side of the pavement.
  • The main car park has limited parking on 10 and 11 October, then closes fully from 12 to 16 October.
  • The smaller car park could stay shut until 16 October, but may reopen earlier.
  • Blue badge bays rise from 12 to 21 across the two car parks.

All work is 8am to 5pm and weather dependent, timed to finish before half term.

The Newmarket parking objection has closed

Objections to new double yellow lines on Hamilton Road and Rowley Drive in Newmarket, about 13 miles west of Bury St Edmunds, closed on 17 September 2026. No decision had appeared in Suffolk County Council’s notices up to 24 September (notice). We will report the outcome when it appears.

What it means for you

  • Driving south on the A11 past Elveden after 8pm, Monday to Thursday next week, expect the diversion. It goes north to Mundford on the A134, then south on the A1065 to Fiveways. It does not come through Bury.
  • Driving east on the A14 after 8pm on a weeknight, expect to be sent off at junction 43. The signed route is the A143 north to Scole, then the A140 south to junction 51. Allow a lot of extra time. It has about two more weeks to run.
  • Coming home west on the A14 late on Monday 28 September, the road shuts before Moreton Hall. No diversion has been published, so allow for it.
  • Joining the A14 towards Cambridge at Newmarket late on Tuesday 29 September, use another junction. The junction 37 westbound entry slip is shut from 9pm.
  • In Bury, Kings Road shuts for a day on 6 October and the Angel Hill footway by the War Memorial for three days from 5 October. Both are still proposals.
  • Ixworth is the one to watch. The A1088 order runs to 18 December, with a 40mph limit from 5 October.
  • If you live on Bennett Avenue, Dettingen Way, in Hessett or at Little Whelnetham, the disruption is measured in weeks, not nights. Those orders are made, not proposed.
  • In daylight, Bury’s own A14 junctions are clear. Nothing in the closure report for 25 September to 1 October shuts the A14 at Bury during the day.
  • Driving to Cambridge or Addenbrooke’s, allow extra time until about December. The 40mph and 50mph narrowing between junctions 33 and 35 applies around the clock.

Which junction you want

Four junctions serve one town, and picking the wrong one puts you on the ring road for an extra ten minutes.

The A14 junctions serving Bury St Edmunds and what each one is for Schematic of the A14 from junction 38 at Kentford to junction 44 at Moreton Hall. The shaded band marks the junction 38 to 42 resurfacing section, which is paused with no return dates. Junction 42 Westley serves the B1106 and A1302 for west Bury and Fornham. Junction 43 St Saviours serves the A143 and A1302 for the station, the town centre and Diss, and is where the A14 eastbound overnight diversion leaves. Junction 44 Moreton Hall serves the A134 for Moreton Hall, Sudbury and Braintree. Junction 41 Risby and junction 38 Waterhall are outside the town. Four A14 junctions, one town: pick the right one Schematic, not to scale. Shaded band is the junction 38 to 42 resurfacing section. RESURFACING PAUSED, NO RETURN DATES J38 J41 J42 J43 J44 Waterhall, Kentford, A11 for Thetford Risby and Burthorpe B1106 and A1302 West Bury, Fornham, Westley A143 and A1302 Station, town centre, and the A14 diversion A134 Moreton Hall, Rougham, Sudbury, Braintree Source: National Highways; junction names as signed on the network.
  • Junction 43, St Saviours, is the one most people mean by “the Bury junction”. It feeds the A143 and A1302 for the station, the northern edge of town and the centre, and it is the junction the A14 eastbound diversion funnels traffic through.
  • Junction 44, Moreton Hall, is for Moreton Hall itself, the eastern estates, and the A134 south towards Sudbury.
  • Junction 42, Westley, is the western approach on the B1106 and A1302, best for Fornham and the west side rather than the middle of town.
  • Junction 41, Risby, and junction 38, Waterhall, are village and A11 junctions rather than town ones. Waterhall is where you leave for Thetford and Norwich.

Parking in the town

West Suffolk Council runs the car parks, and the split between long stay and short stay is the thing to get right.

Long stay: Olding Road, the Parkway multi-storey, Ram Meadow, St Andrews long stay, plus Nowton Park and West Stow Country Park out of town. These are where you leave a car for a working day.

Short stay: arc-Cattlemarket, Chequer Square, Lower Baxter Street, School Yard, Parkway surface, Moreton Hall, Hardwick Heath, Bury leisure centre and Southgate Community Centre. St Andrews also has a flexi-stay.

One quirk worth knowing: the council runs a free from 3pm on Tuesdays offer, but it applies only to short stay car parks and to on-street bays where you would normally pay. It does not apply in any long stay car park (West Suffolk Council). Park in Ram Meadow on a Tuesday afternoon expecting a free ticket and you will get a fine. There is more detail on parking in Bury St Edmunds.

If you are out at an evening event, the closing times matter more than the tariff. The arc-Cattlemarket underground car park locks at 6pm and the Parkway surface car park at 6.30pm. Ram Meadow stops new entries at 10pm but lets you leave at any time.

There is no park and ride, and that is the answer

People search for a Bury St Edmunds park and ride, so it is worth being plain: the town does not have a permanent one. What exists is occasional and seasonal, a free Saturday shuttle that has been trialled from the Olding Road car park into the town in the run-up to Christmas. A permanent scheme has been raised repeatedly as the town grows, but it has not been judged viable and nothing is currently running.

For the town centre itself, the practical alternative is that Bury is small and flat. From Ram Meadow or the arc-Cattlemarket you are inside five minutes of almost everything in the centre on foot, which is usually quicker than circling for a space nearer.

Getting out without a car

The train to London always involves a change, usually at Stowmarket, and takes about 1h48 at best. The same Ipswich to Cambridge line is the useful one locally: Cambridge in around 40 minutes, Ipswich in around 35.

That line is worth a second look this fortnight. The A14 eastbound is shut overnight towards Ipswich on weeknights, the A11 southbound shuts overnight past Elveden until 5 October, and the A14 towards Cambridge is narrowed to 40mph around the clock.

National Rail’s engineering list, checked on 25 September, shows nothing on the Bury line this weekend. The next date to know is Sunday 4 October, when buses replace trains between Ipswich and Stowmarket. Greater Anglia trains still run between Cambridge and Stowmarket, so Bury’s own trains are unaffected, but the usual change at Stowmarket for London becomes a bus to Ipswich that day (National Rail).

For everything else the district runs on buses, and fares are set by the operators rather than the council, so check with the operator on the route you need.