A series of road works is being planned that will improve the road link between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth in the East of England. The road improvements are being managed by Highways England on the A47 route.
Highways England is improving the A47 in six places between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth as part of a £450 million project. Work has already commenced at Guyhirn in Cambridgeshire for the £14 million roundabout upgrade that forms one of the initial phases of the project and which will take 12 months to complete.
Peter Mumford, executive director of Major Projects for Highways England explained that Guyhirn is the first of a package of six projects being carried out on the 184km stretch of the A47 between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth.
This is one of six projects that Highways England is doing to improve the A47. Three sections of the 184km stretch of the A47 between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth will be upgraded to dual carriageway. Norfolk sections will be upgraded between Blofield and North Burlingham and from North Tuddenham to Easton, while in Peterborough the A47 between Wansford and Sutton will also be dualled. There will be further junction improvements at the A11 Thickthorn roundabout for Norwich, and at Great Yarmouth junctions by the end of 2024.
Mumford also said that the plans call for the dualling of the A47 from North Tuddenham to Easton, and from Blofield to North Burlingham. The work along the A47 will relieve congestion and make journey times more reliable for drivers.
Up to 20% of the 20,000 vehicles that use the Guyhirn roundabout daily are lorries. This improvement scheme will reduce congestion, making journeys safer and smoother for drivers. The roundabout currently has high levels of congestion during peak hours, which is because of the lack of lane space and the poor visibility for drivers as they approach the roundabout. The changes aim to reduce that congestion, improve journey times and increase safety.
The improvements at Guyhirn will see the roundabout increased to two lanes on all approaches, as well as an extra lane over the River Nene Bridge. There will be two new crossing points for pedestrians, linked by an improved route. Bridge maintenance will be completed at the same time to minimise road closures.
