A47 junction connecting King's Lynn to Cambridgeshire gets go-ahead for £14 million work
A key A47 junction which connects Lynn to Cambridgeshire will be given a £14 million upgrade, which starts next month.
Highways England has today announced the A47 Guyhirn junction, which is used by more than 20,000 vehicles per day, will be developed.
The project will increase the size of the roundabout by creating two lanes on all approaches. This will include an additional lane over the existing carriageway on the River Nene Bridge.
The work is expected to be completed in April 2022 and officials say the upgrade will help reduce delays and traffic queues at the roundabout, as well as improving safety.
New pedestrian crossings and footpaths will be introduced as part of the scheme.
For the safety of the public and workers, road closures will be required when work starts in February and then in autumn 2021 for resurfacing.
Advanced notice of these road closures will be given on the project website, via social media and through early warning road signage.
North West Norfolk MP James Wild said: “Investing in better road connections is important to support people, jobs and investment in West Norfolk as well as to improve safety. It is encouraging that work will begin shortly on the scheme to ease congestion at the A47 Guyhirn junction which I pressed the Chancellor and Roads Minister to approve.
"This investment is part of the biggest one time investment in the A47 and I will continue to campaign for further schemes that will boost jobs and investment.”
Chris Griffin, Highways England programme lead for the A47 schemes, said: “The Guyhirn roundabout is a key junction along the A47 which connects people, communities and businesses in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk through to King's Lynn and the A1(M).
"Around 15 to 20 percent of traffic here is lorries, which is higher than average, and shows the importance of this stretch of road for connecting communities and services in this rural location.
“Upgrading the junction will not only help reduce delays and make journey times more reliable, it will also provide the additional capacity which will be crucial to the proposed commercial and housing developments in the area, which is good news for the local, regional and national economy.”
During construction, Highways say they will aim to provide a safe environment for all those working on or travelling through the roadworks, while keeping delays to a minimum and informing motorists.
Highways is improving the A47 in six places between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth as part of a £300 million-plus investment, including the Guyhirn junction.
