Green light for National Highways’ £161M Norwich roundabout revamp

National Highways' A47 Thickthorn Junction scheme in Norwich has been given the green light by transport secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

The transport secretary has approved a £161m plan to overhaul a junction on what is considered to be one of the UK’s most dangerous roads.

The scheme has an estimated budget of £161M and is located where the A11 and A47 meet near Hethersett. Plans include a new slip road off the A11 northbound, removing the need to use the Thickthorn roundabout.

A seperate left-hand turn for those travelling eastbound on the A47 is also proposed. This is as well as a new footbridge and a fourth lane on the southern part of the junction.

In addition, two other A47 schemes including the dualling of the A47 have been given the go ahead recently.

Approval

Trevelyan has approved the scheme's development consent order (DCO) application, following a delay to the decision due to Queen Elizabeth’s death.

The decision letter says that Trevelyan notes the Examining Authority (ExA)'s "overall conclusions on need, traffic and transportation, policy and factual issues".

The granting of the DCO means preparatory work on the project can begin later this year with construction due to begin in early 2023.

Data shows the section of the A47 between Thickthorn junction and the Ipswich Road junction is used by more than 60,000 vehicles each day. This makes it one of the busiest stretches of the road in Norfolk.

Increased Capacity

The decision letter adds: "In the ExA’s view, appropriate mitigation has been secured in the DCO during construction, taking into account the first reiteration of the Environmental Management Plan and the Outline Traffic Management Plan.

"The ExA accepts that the existing Thickthorn junction is operating above capacity and that this will significantly worsen in the long term and that there is a convincing case made that the proposed development, during operation, is likely to reduce journey times and release capacity in the overall road network for residents and businesses.

"The ExA considers that overall journey time improvements during the operational phase detailed by the applicant leading to a greater free flowing road network weighs significantly in favour of the DCO being made. The secretary of state agrees with these conclusions."

Main contractor Galliford Try is set to begin work later this year on both projects. These are two of six major improvements and almost half a billion pounds of investment National Highways is making to the 160km A47 route.

The decision letter says that Trevelyan notes the Examining Authority (ExA)'s "overall conclusions on need, traffic and transportation, policy and factual issues" and said:

“The ExA accepts that the existing Thickthorn junction is operating above capacity and that this will significantly worsen in the long term and that there is a convincing case made that the proposed development, during operation, is likely to reduce journey times and release capacity in the overall road network for residents and businesses.

“The ExA considers that overall journey time improvements during the operational phase detailed by the applicant leading to a greater free flowing road network weighs significantly in favour of the DCO being made. The secretary of state agrees with these conclusions."