The plans for the long-awaited £300m upgrade of the A47 have been revealed today (Monday 14 August), with the preferred routes for the various section improvements being confirmed.
Highways England, who have been consulting over the details of the project, confirmed improvements for junctions and roundabouts, including Thickthorn roundabout, on the edge of Norwich, and two roundabouts in Great Yarmouth. The two Norfolk sections earmarked for dualling are between North Tuddenham and Easton and between Blofield and North Burlingham.
Philip Davie, Highways England programme leader for the A47, said:
“We have listened to the public’s views and these have helped shape and inform our approach to our proposed schemes. Work now continues, adding detail to the design for each of the dualling and junction improvements, and on planning how we will deliver them in a way that keeps traffic moving.”
Norfolk Chamber and council leaders welcomed the news but highlighted the need to keep up the momentum for the work to be completed as soon as possible and also for further investment to dual more sections of the 115 mile route between Great Yarmouth and Peterborough.
Commenting on the preferred route announcements, Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:
“”We welcome the announcement of the preferred route options, as the next steps towards delivering the long awaited improvements along the A47. The A47 is a main route across Norfolk and is very important to the local economy, so we are keen to see these improvements delivered at the earliest opportunity.
“However, there is still a significant way to go to bring one of Norfolk’s main routes up to standard, even with the current planned improvement schemes. Norfolk Chamber and its members will be working in partnership with the A47 Alliance, to call on Westminster to provide funding for further improvements, such as the dualling of the Acle Straight and the dualling of the section between Tilney and East Winch, both of which will help businesses to deliver greater economic growth and jobs in our region.”
For more details on the preferred option, see the below links:
Dualling between North Tuddenham and Easton
Dualling between Blofield to North Burlingham
A47 / A11 Thickthorn roundabout
Highways England must follow due process in delivering the improvements to the A47. The announcement of the preferred routes will be followed by detailed survey works, which will lead to a formal Statutory Consultation period and eventually to an application for a Development Consent Order. It is hoped that the actual construction works will commence in Spring of 2020.
