The A47 Alliance is to push for further investment from central government to make much-needed improvements to the A47, including dualling much of the route.
Highways England, the government company charged with operating, maintaining and improving England’s motorways and major A roads, is shortly set to reveal a set of proposals to make improvements to the A47 in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Central government has already committed to funding these improvements, which largely consist of making improvements to junctions along the route, with construction set to begin in 2020.
The A47 Alliance, which includes Norfolk Chamber, local authorities, MPs and others, will now focus its efforts on getting a commitment from central government for further improvements. The priority improvements agreed by the A47 Alliance are:
- Dualling Acle Straight to Great Yarmouth
- Dualling Tilney to East Winch (including Hardwick flyover dualling) in King’s Lynn
- Dualling Guyhirn to Wisbech,
- Junction improvements at:
- A1101 Elm High Roundabout and B198 East and West in Wisbech
- Eye Roundabout
- Junction 15 and Junction 18 in Peterborough
If funding for these improvements is secured, work could get under way between 2020 and 2025.
Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk chamber said:
“Norfolk Chamber will be supporting the A47 Alliance in its plans to step up the campaign for A47 improvements. We need to show Westminster that we have the support of the Norfolk business community, the local authorities, the general public and all our local MPs by presenting a business care which highlights that the much needed A47 improvements will help deliver greater economic growth and jobs.”
The A47 Alliance will be canvasing public and stakeholder support through the website and newsletter and organising a business breakfast. It will seek to meet the Transport Minister with a portfolio of evidence to try to secure future funding.
Cllr Wilby, Chairman of the A47 Alliance and Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Economy Development and Transport Committee, said:
“These improvements are crucial to improve the A47. It is the major route across East Anglia and for too long businesses, residents and visitors have had to put up with an inadequate, unreliable route.
“The Alliance was successful in persuading government to invest over £300m for improvements that will start on the ground in 2020. These are a good first step towards the Alliance’s ambition of full dualling of the full A47, with bridges and flyovers being created at key junctions. We have now agreed our priorities for the period after 2020 and will step up our campaign to persuade government of the case for further investment.”
Graham Plant, Vice Chairman of the A47 Alliance and Leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council said:
“The A47 is the major route that connects our region to the midlands and the north, so it’s vital that we maintain pressure on getting the road improved.
“We welcome the forthcoming Highways England consultation on the currently funded schemes along the A47. The A47 Alliance is pleased to see progress with these schemes starting to come forward after the funding announcement in 2014. We are also pleased to see that the A12 has now been renumbered as the A47 between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. This will make journey planning easier for motorists. We will continue to press for further major infrastructure in and around the town including Vauxhall Junction, Acle Straight dualling and the Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing.”
