Ipswich fans were told to allow extra time before Ipswich vs Liverpool, after urgent gas works near Portman Road caused traffic disruption and delays on key bus routes. The warning came ahead of the 20:00 BST kick-off, with four-way temporary lights already in place at the junction of Bramford Road, Yarmouth Road and Chevalier Street.
Portman Road traffic disruption
Temporary traffic lights were put in place on Thursday to repair an emergency gas escape. Heavy traffic congestion was reported in and around the site for motorists, and Ipswich Buses said services 8, 9 and 10 could be delayed for the duration of the repairs.
A spokesperson for Ipswich Buses said: "Please allow yourself extra time to get to the match safely and before the kick off". That was the clearest message for supporters making their way to the ground, with the travel advice aimed directly at the matchday crowd.
The repair work and the matchday context
A Liverpool spokesperson said: "While everything is now under control, there is substantial engineering needed to complete the repair". Cadent also said, "We recognise that this work is taking place in a busy area, but hope people understand that this is essential work and everyone's safety has to be our priority."
The match itself was Ipswich vs Liverpool's third Premier League game of the season at 20:00 BST, and Liverpool won 2-0 away at Ipswich. Ipswich's recent league form going into the game was L L W, while Liverpool's was W D D.
The traffic lights were likely to remain in place until 11 September, so the disruption was not just a brief pre-kick-off issue for those using the roads around Portman Road.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
