Bus Service Improvement Plan to bring 12 weeks of work to Portland Street and Blackfriars Road in King’s Lynn costing around £364,000

Improvement works on two roads are due to start next month and will last for around 12 weeks – at a cost of £364,000.

The work on Portland Street and Blackfriars Road in Lynn is due to start on or soon after Monday, March 10, with the main aim of improving the accessibility of the bus stop area for both bus drivers and passengers.

As part of a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), this will include the removal of a kerb build-out on Portland Street and accessibility improvements to existing bus stops on Blackfriars Road.

It will also include the installation of an above-ground bus stop line detector – a device that can detect moving and stationary vehicles – reconstruction of a bus stop layby in coloured concrete, resurfacing of Blackfriars Road and updating signing and road markings.

Portland Street will only be accessible between Monday and Wednesday, March 10 and 14. Parking spaces, on both sides, within 30 metres west of its junction with A148 Blackfriars Road will be suspended.

Residents will be able to exit via Blackfriars Road, but there may be delays. Buses from Railway Road will be diverted via Austin Street and Blackfriars Road.

Meanwhile, work to Blackfriars Road bus stop layby will be undertaken with a lane closure in place.

Due to the construction involved and to maintain a safe working environment to protect the workforce and members of the public, it will be necessary to close the nearside lane on Blackfriars Road between its junction with A148 Gaywood Road and Waterloo Street.

There will also be closures for some isolated operations at the end of the scheme for surfacing and lining works, but these will be undertaken on Sundays and during evening and night-time hours to minimise disruption.

Blackfriars Road will be closed between its junction with Wellesley Street and the train station car park from Sunday to Monday, April 27 to 28, 7pm-6.30am. It will also be shut between its junction with Portland Street and Waterloo Street from Sunday to Monday, May 4 to 5, 7pm – 6.30am.

Portland Street will be closed from its junction with Blackfriars Road West for a distance of 30 metres from Sunday to Monday, May 4 to 5, 7pm-6.30am.

Portland Street and Blackfriars Road will be shut between its junction with train station car park access and Wellesley Street will be two-way from Sunday to Monday, May 4 to 5, 7pm – 6.30am.

Blackfriars Road will be closed between its junction with Portland Street South for a distance of 70 metres and Waterloo Street will be closed from its junction with A148 Blackfriars Road West for a distance of 15 metres from Sunday to Monday, May 11 to 12, 7pm-6.30am.

Waterloo Street will be two-way for its entire length from Sunday to Monday, May 11 to 12, 7pm-6.30am.

Blackfriars Road will be closed from its junction with Wellesley Street South for a distance of 125 metres from Monday to Tuesday, May 12 to 13, 7pm-6.30am

Existing 7.5t weight restriction B1144 between its junction with Gaywood Road and Southgate roundabout will be suspended on April 27, May 4 and 11-13, 7pm-6.30am.

The bus stop on Blackfriars Road will be affected during the construction due to traffic management requirements. Passengers will be directed to the bus station.

Access through the scheme area will be maintained at all times.

Cyclists will be encouraged to dismount and walk along the temporary walkway provided within the traffic management.

A spokesperson from Norfolk County Council said: “We understand that disruption on the roads and to bus services is frustrating and would like to apologise for any inconvenience this work causes.

“We would like to thank everyone affected for their patience while construction takes place and we will be working with our contractor Tarmac throughout to minimise the impact as much as possible.”