A47 Breydon Bridge (work completed)

During 2022 and 2023, we carried out a range of work on the A47 Breydon Bridge in Great Yarmouth, including maintenance, improvements and upgrades to the system that controls the bridge.

Start date September 2022

End date Summer/Autumn 2023

Cost

Latest updates

17 August 2023
Night closures ahead as work progresses

We're progressing with the scheme that involves replacing the hydraulics and bridge-lifting control panel. An approximate £7.5million is being invested to upgrade the bridge elements as part of this project.

As part of the commissioning phase of the work we're planning the following night closures of the bridge from August to late October 2023:
- Tuesday 22, Thursday 24 and Tuesday 29 August
- Friday 15 September to Thursday 5 October including weekends
We'll also need to undertake bridge lifts during daytime off-peak hours (10am to 2.30pm) under traffic signals from Monday 9 to Friday 13 October. We'll update you if there are any changes to the proposed dates.

Diversion routes

Eastbound traffic will be diverted from the A47 at Trowse Newton to travel southbound on the A146. Traffic will then join the A143 at Gillingham to re-join the A47 at Beccles Road, A47 interchange.

Westbound traffic will follow the same diversion as above but in reverse.
07 February 2023

February 2023 project update

Our work on Breydon Bridge is now expected to be completed by this summer.

This is later than originally planned, and follows a pause and full safety review after a contractor sustained a minor injury whilst working on the bridge last November.

Safety is a priority for us, and it was important to understand the reasons that led to the incident before we could full resume our work.

We understand the delayed completion will cause disruption to road users, and we are working with Norfolk County Council to ensure this is kept to an absolute minimum.

Any opportunity to do the work faster is also being examined. We will publicise the dates of any future closures on this website.

See more updates

Project information

We carried out work to replace the old systems that operated the bridge, replacing an old control panel and providing new hydraulics. By doing this work, we avoided any future emergency closures that could happen if these old systems broke down.

Most of this work was done using scaffolding under the bridge to minimise the amount of road closures and traffic disruption as much as possible.

The bridge was not open for marine traffic during this work.

This will keep the Breydon Bridge in a safe and serviceable condition. It will also make it easier for boats passing through.