Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to ensure that suicide prevention measures are in place at Orwell Bridge in Suffolk.
Highways England takes its responsibility to support vulnerable people extremely seriously. Highways England works closely with the Samaritans and, since March 2021, it has installed newer Samaritan signs on the Orwell Bridge’s approaches, abutments and in nearby laybys to increase their visibility.
There are four telephones on the Orwell Bridge that directly link to the Samaritans. These were upgraded in 2017 to provide more modern equipment away from the A14 carriageway. Highways England is currently preparing to carry out a series of inspections and surveys to identify further measures to help prevent suicides.