Westlegate is set to be closed as part of next phase of Transport for Norwich city centre improvement work. The second phase of the Transport for Norwich city centre improvement work is set to start on Monday 21 March 2016. The biggest change for motorists will be the permanent closure of Westlegate to all through traffic with Golden Ball Street opening as a two-way street.
The aim of the current proposal is to build upon other TfN projects, especially the changes implemented in St Stephens Street, Chapel Field North, and Rampant Horse Street in 2014, and to make the most of the benefits of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road, which should be completed in late 2017.
The £3.05m scheme is being carried out in phases to minimise disruption and will once complete:
- Give motorists easier access to car parks, including John Lewis, both Castle Mall car parks and the multi-storey under construction off Rose Lane
- Restore All Saints Green as an attractive traffic-free open space.
- Improve pedestrian and cycle connection with the rest of the city centre by removing traffic from Westlegate
- Simplify north-south vehicle access by making Golden Ball Street two-way
Thanks to the work already completed during phase 1 motorists already have easier access to the John Lewis car park, being able to turn in from either direction along Ber Street and on exiting with both left and right turns now allowed. And as Golden Ball Street becomes two way drivers approaching from the south will be able to take a simpler route to the Castle Mall car parks cutting out the former one way loop along Westlegate and Red Lion Street.
With Westlegate closed to general traffic work will start on the new pedestrian zone with a number of trees set to be planted over the next few months, and access for pedestrians and businesses will be retained at all times. And the section of Farmers Avenue from its junction with Red Lion Street to the entrance to the smaller Castle Mall car park will also be pedestrianised, this will be made possible by the rest of Farmers Avenue becoming two way. Red Lion Street will become available for buses, taxis and cycles only as is the case with St Stephens Street currently.
Cllr Steve Morphew, Chair of the Norwich Highways Agency Committee, said: “I’m really grateful for the help and patience of everyone during the current works. Thankfully there have been even fewer problems than anticipated. However the next phase could cause more delays so I ask everyone to bear with us while we carry out this work to build simpler faster routes for drivers and attractive spaces for everyone however they travel to the city.
“We are starting this next phase just before the Easter break which we know can be a busy time in the city so hopefully this will give people a few days to get used to the new road layouts before the bank holiday and plenty of time for the new system to settle down before schools go back after Easter. I ask people to please plan your journeys and allow extra time while the work is underway as everyone is having to adjust.”
