Another of National Highways’ delayed improvement schemes on the A47 Thickthorn junction in Norfolk has been approved by the new transport secretary. Anne-Marie Trevelyan approved a development consent order (DCO) for the £161 million scheme to redevelop Thickthorn junction on Norwich’s outskirts.
The A47 and A11 will have two free-flowing connections. This is as well as additional lanes and pedestrian crossings. A new half-mile link road will also be constructed. Furthermore, a new footbridge over the A47 45m to the east of the current bridge will be demolished and built again.
This is one of National Highways’ six major improvements to the 115-mile section of the A47 between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth. They are being made at a cost of nearly half a billion pounds.
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Thickthorn junction upgrade to reduce congestion and enhance journey times
The schemes, according to the government-owned company, will enhance safety and cut congestion on the A47. It is “one of the country’s most dangerous A roads.”
The segment of the A47 between Thickthorn and Ipswich Road is used by over 60,000 vehicles per day. This is according to traffic modeling data. Consequently, the A47 has one of the highest accidents for an A road in the UK. According to National Highways, casualty estimates over the next 60 years that as many as 26 fatal or serious injury collisions could be avoided, with 242 fewer incidents.
“Anybody who knows about the region will also know how engaged the junction can be. Thus, I am optimistic our work will greatly reduce congestion, and enhance journey times. Most notably, it will make the road safer,” said Chris Griffin, National Highways program leader in the East Region. “As we move closer to construction, this serves as another example of National Highways’ commitment to improving the A47 between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth.”
According to National Highways, the DCO means that preparatory work on the project can begin later this year. Construction begins in early 2023 and the redeveloped junction will be fully operational by early 2025.
