Stuck in Mildenhall? one broken-down lorry shuts Queensway : five detours and how long you’ll wait

Forest Heath Police closed a central stretch of Queensway in Mildenhall this morning after a heavy goods vehicle towing a trailer broke down. Officers warned drivers to use alternative routes while crews dealt with the obstruction. The AA’s live traffic map flagged severe delays, with congestion snarling the approaches to the police station square roundabout and the town centre grid.

What happened on Queensway

The incident involved a lorry and trailer that ground to a halt on Queensway, a narrow urban section that carries a steady flow of local traffic. Recovery teams faced a tight, stop-start environment, with limited room for manoeuvre and little spare kerbside space for temporary stacking of vehicles.

Police shut a busy section of Queensway and advised drivers to divert. Expect sluggish traffic around the police station square roundabout.

Queues formed quickly. School runs, deliveries and commuters all met the same bottleneck. With one lane blocked, officers prioritised safety and clear recovery access over trickle-through traffic, which kept the closure firm while the lorry remained immobile.

Where the queues hit hardest

Key pinch points to watch

• Police station square roundabout: frequent standstills as vehicles looped back seeking a way around.
• Queensway and adjacent streets: constrained carriageway widths magnified the tailbacks.
• A1101 approaches: extra volume spilled onto main routes as drivers attempted early diversions.
• High Street and town-centre cut-throughs: sporadic gridlock as satnavs redirected traffic onto smaller roads.

The AA mapped severe delays across central Mildenhall, with knock-on queues spilling into feeder roads.

The five quickest detours right now

Use these options where local restrictions allow and only if the route suits your direction of travel. Check signs and weight limits before committing.

• A1101 (Bury Road / Kingsway): keep to the A1101 corridors to skirt the centre and rejoin beyond the closure.
• College Heath Road loop: cut via College Heath Road to bypass Queensway and link back toward the A1101.
• Recreation Way connector: short local hop that can relieve pressure when the roundabout clogs.
• A1065 (Brandon Road) approach: if you’re coming from the northwest, stay on the A1065 longer and drop in later.
• B1102 option toward Fordham: for eastbound trips, swing out via the B1102 where suitable to avoid the central knot.

How long will it take to clear?

Urban HGV recoveries rarely finish instantly. Teams first secure the scene, then either repair the fault at the kerbside or prepare a tow. Trailer checks add steps. Access, gradient and the lorry’s load all affect timing. In typical town-centre conditions, recovery and clearance can take anything from under an hour to several hours, depending on the fault and equipment on scene.

Even after Queensway reopens, expect a tail of disruption as the backlog unwinds through the roundabouts.

Police will reopen the road as soon as it’s safe. The fastest way to shorten the jam is for non-essential traffic to reroute early and keep junctions clear so buses and emergency vehicles can get through.

What drivers can do now

Practical steps if you’re already in the queue

• Leave space. A clear gap helps recovery vehicles and reduces the accordion effect that worsens queues.
• Switch off at a standstill. If you’re not moving for several minutes, save fuel and reduce emissions.
• Plan for delays. Call ahead to schools or workplaces and adjust any time-sensitive commitments.
• Watch for instructions. Follow officers’ signals and temporary signs; do not U-turn across live lanes.
• Check local restrictions. Respect weight limits and resident-only streets; satnav shortcuts can mislead.

Why big lorries break down in town centres

HGVs carry complex drivetrains, air brake systems and electronics that dislike heat, repeated stops and tight turns. A sudden loss of air pressure, a clutch fault or a cooling issue can immobilise a vehicle quickly. With a trailer attached, the footprint doubles and the recovery becomes more intricate. In a town centre, narrow lanes and parked cars leave little scope to edge a broken unit clear.

Queensway’s urban geometry—junctions in quick succession, pedestrian crossings and short sight lines—multiplies the difficulty. Recovery operators often need specialised kit, such as low-loader tugs or air cushions, if the trailer’s load complicates lifting or towing.

At-a-glance impact guide

What this means for buses, deliveries and the school run

Bus timetables may slip as vehicles fight for space at the roundabouts. Operators typically prioritise core corridors, so expect gaps and bunching rather than total cancellations. Couriers and supermarket vans often reroute via the A1101 and College Heath Road to keep to service windows. Parents should allow extra time for drop-offs and consider walking the last stretch if they live nearby.

Travel tips for the rest of the day

Urban traffic doesn’t spring back immediately when a blockage clears. Queues thin from the front, which leaves patchy delays for a short period. Plan a slightly longer window for the lunchtime and early afternoon peak. If you must cross the centre, aim for off-peak minutes between known school finishing times.

For HGV drivers and fleet managers

Breakdown risk rises on short urban hops after a long run. A brief pre-drop check—air pressure, warning lights, coupling integrity—can catch issues before you enter tight streets. If a fault appears, stop in the safest available lay-by or loading bay and call support early. A clear location shortens the incident and keeps vehicles moving.

For everyone else, the simplest gain comes from better spacing and patience at junctions. Small courtesies prevent block-backs and reduce the chance of a second incident compounding the first. Keep an eye on live traffic data, heed police guidance from Forest Heath officers on scene, and give recovery crews room to work so Queensway can reopen sooner.