Improvement work to reduce traffic jams and delays in Great Yarmouth is due to begin on Fuller’s Hill roundabout on Monday, 18 September. Norfolk County Council is spending £650,000 to create an extra lane on the roundabout by reducing the size of the central island. An additional right-hand turn lane will also be put in on the North Quay approach from the north where often queues are particularly bad due to the volume of traffic wanting to get onto the A47. The work is due to take around 14 weeks to complete and is scheduled to finish by Friday, 22 December. During the vast majority of the works, all roads approaching the roundabout will remain open however they will be down to one lane so people travelling through the area should plan for longer journey times than usual, particularly at peak times. When completed, people can expect fewer delays in the area and shorter, more reliable journey times. It’s hoped that air quality may also benefit, with a reduction in queueing stationary traffic giving off emissions.
Commenting on the improvement works, Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk Chamber said:
“Fuller’s Hill roundabout is a key gateway junction into Great Yarmouth and the improvement to this junction, as well as the forthcoming improvements to both Vauxhall and Gapton Hall roundabouts will deliver much needed relief to some of the traffic congestion, helping towards improving quality of life and supporting the local economy.”
Martin Wilby, Chairman of the Environment, Development and Transport Committee at Norfolk County Council, said:
“The current Fuller’s Hill roundabout simply wasn’t designed to cope with the amount of traffic that is using it today. Adding an extra lane to the roundabout and creating an additional approach lane for A47-bound traffic should make a big difference and help keep things moving, which in turn will benefit local people’s day-to-day lives and the town’s economy.” Drivers heading for Yarmouth town centre or the seafront from the direction of Caister may wish to avoid the roundabout altogether by turning left to stay on Caister Road which then becomes Northgate Street. A sign will be put up before this turning warning drivers that there could be delays ahead. Efforts are being made to minimise the impact of the work on the town, with the peak summer tourist season completely avoided. If at all possible, the County Council will suspend the work and remove the lane closures for the town’s Christmas lights switch-on and Christmas Fair on the weekend of 24 to 26 November. There will be a need to close the roundabout and all approach roads overnight for five nights, these closures will take place towards the end of the works and are necessary to allow the roads to be resurfaced and repainted safely. This work has been scheduled to be carried out overnight specifically to reduce the impact on people who use these routes. No other complete road closures are planned. The Fuller’s Hill roundabout improvement work is part of a multimillion pound programme to transform the Great Yarmouth area over the coming years to make it easier for people to get to and around and make it a more attractive place to live, work and visit. This will help attract future investment and economic development to the area, creating skilled jobs, business opportunities and giving local people a better quality of life. Norfolk County Council has been allocated £9 million by the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership to make road and transport improvements in the town. Along with the Fuller’s Hill roundabout works, schemes planned in the near future include improvements to North Quay, The Conge and the rail station forecourt. Chris Starkie, Managing Director of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “These improvements will play a big part in easing congestion for local people, businesses and visitors to the town. When taken as part of the wider £9m project they will have huge benefits for the economy of Great Yarmouth, the surrounding area and our region as a whole.” Signs are already in place near Fuller’s Hill roundabout about the upcoming works and likely delays. Further information on this scheme and those mentioned above will be available shortly on the Norfolk County Council website at www.norfolk.gov.uk/tfgy
