A47 Lowestoft storm drain improvements

We’re carrying out work to replace a 500m section of storm drains on the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse where there’s often local flooding. We will be working in phases to reduce the impact on the local area, and avoid the summer holidays and peak tourist season. Once complete, the road will be able to better disperse surface water and will be less prone to flooding.

Start date 3 July 2023
End date Spring/Summer 2024
Cost

Latest updates

  • 07 March 2024

    Main work recommences in March 2024

    In July 2023, we undertook the first phase of work, doing surveys to confirm our final drainage design, as well as inspecting and jet-cleaning existing drains, and temporarily replacing any faulty drain connections.

    Prior to Christmas 2023, we started the main phase of our works, splitting it up so that other utility works could take place in Lowestoft and minimising total impacts on the public.

    We will now be recommencing the main work in March 2024, continuing until June 2024.

    The diagram below shows all 3 phases of work:

    Diagram showing all 3 phases of work

    (There are more maps showing the work phases are available in a separate section on this webpage).

    Work starts soon

    Main works recommences on Monday 18 March for approximately 12 weeks until June 2024.

    This work requires a series of 24/7 local road closures, installation of a site compound at the corner of Sussex Road/A47, 24/7 temporary traffic signals and other various night-time and full weekend closures to fully reinstate sections of the road surface.

    Details of what's being done in the different phases of our work is shown below. Please note that these dates may be subject to change. 

    Phase

    Date

    Notes

    1

    Monday 18 March – Friday 29 March

    Two-way 24/7 traffic lights situated between Sussex Road and The Ravine.

     

    Closures of Sussex Road and Park Road, where they meet the A47.

     

    Working hours of 7am to 11pm, weekdays only. Traffic lights still in operation on weekends.

    Friday 22 March – Sunday 24 March

     

    Overnight closures of the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse. Working hours of 8pm to 6am.

    2

    Monday 1 April –

    mid-May

    Two-way 24/7 traffic lights situated between The Ravine and Lowestoft Lighthouse.

     

    Closures of Sussex Road, Corton Road, North Parade and Royal Avenue, where they meet the A47.

     

    Working hours of 7am to 11pm, weekdays only. Traffic lights still in operation on weekends.

     

    Monday 8 April – Friday 12 April

    Overnight closures of the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse. Working hours of 8pm to 6am.

     

    8pm Friday 26 April - 6am Monday 29 April

     

    Full 24/7 closure of the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse.

    Monday 29 April

    Overnight closure of the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse. Working hours of 8pm to 6am.

     

    3

    Mid-May – mid-June

    Two-way 24/7 traffic lights situated between Park Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse.

     

    Closure of Sussex Road, where it meets the A47.

     

    Working hours of 7am to 11pm, weekdays only. Traffic lights still in operation on weekends.

    Late May

    Overnight closure of the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse, for three nights. Working hours of 8pm to 6am.

     

    The activities being done are likely to cause some noisy periods. We apologise for any inconvenience caused, and thank you for your patience whilst we do this essential maintenance.

    Diversions  

    When full closures of the A47 are required, we will need to close the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse. Whilst the road is closed, northbound traffic will be diverted via the A1144 and the A1117.  See diversion map below.

    Southbound traffic will follow the same diversion but in reverse. 

  • 14 November 2023

    Main work starts from November 2023 onwards

    In July 2023, we undertook the first phase of work, doing surveys to confirm our final drainage design, as well as inspecting and jet-cleaning existing drains, and temporarily replacing any faulty drain connections.

    Due to other utility work in the area after Christmas, and a commitment to minimising inconvenience to the public, our main phase of work will now be split up. Part of the work will be done before Christmas, and the rest during spring/summer 2024.  

    Diagram showing all 3 phases of work:

    Diagram showing all 3 phases of work

    (There are more maps showing the work phases are available in a separate section on this webpage).

    Work starts soon

    The main phase of the work will start Monday 20 November for approximately four weeks. To shorten the overall duration, we will be working longer hours of 7am to 11pm on weekdays only, weather permitting.  

    This work requires a series of 24/7 local road closures and temporary traffic lights, and a site compound at the corner of Sussex Road/the A47. We will also need night-time road closures to fully replace sections of the road surface.

    Details of what's being done in the different phases of our work is shown below. Please note that these dates may be subject to change. 

    Date / Phase 

    Notes 

    Monday 20 November to Friday 15 December 2023

    Phase 1 

    Two-way 24/7 traffic lights situated between Sussex Road and The Ravine.  

    Closures of Sussex Road, Corton Road, North Parade and Royal Avenue, where they meet the A47. 

    24/7 closure of Sussex Road/A47 junction for installation of site compound 

    Working hours of 7am to 11pm, weekdays only. Traffic lights still in operation on weekends. 

    Tuesday 5 December to Friday 8 December 2023

    Phase 1 

    Overnight closures of the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse. Working hours of 8pm to 6am. 

    Spring/Summer 2024 

    Phases 2 and 3 

    Rest of main work to be completed. 

    Sussex Road will remain closed to the A47 throughout these phases, whilst we keep our site compound in place. 

     

    The activities being done are likely to cause some noisy periods. We apologise for any inconvenience caused, and thank you for your patience whilst we do this essential maintenance.

    Closures and diversions  

    When full closures of the A47 are required, we will need to close the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse. Whilst the road is closed, northbound traffic will be diverted via the A1144 and the A1117.  See diversion map below.

    Southbound traffic will follow the same diversion but in reverse. 

  • 26 June 2023

    Phase 1 work, June 2023

    We’re replacing a 500m section of storm drains on the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse where local flooding can occur.

    To reduce impact on the local community and avoid the summer holiday and peak tourist seasons, we will do the work in two phases.

    In July, we undertook the first phase of work, doing surveys to confirm our final drainage design, as well as inspecting and jet-cleaning existing drains, and temporarily replacing any faulty drain connections.

    The second phase of this work will start at the end of November 2023 for approximately four months. To make our work quicker, we will be working longer hours from 7am to 11pm (on weekdays only, weather permitting).

    Phase 1

    The first phase of overnight work took place between Monday 3 July and Thursday 20 July 2023 on weeknights between 8pm and 6am.

    This work will involve undertaking surveys to confirm our final drainage design, as well as inspecting and jet cleaning existing drainage connections, and temporarily replacing any faulty connections ahead of phase 2.

    Closures and diversions
    To carry out the work safely, we will need to close the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse. Whilst the road is closed, northbound traffic will be diverted via the A1144 and the A1117. Southbound traffic will follow the same diversion but in reverse. See diversion map below.


    Phase 2

    Our work will stop over the summer and will start again in the autumn for approximately four months.

    We expect most of this work to be carried out during the day, with some occasional overnight closures needed for certain work.

    Diversion map

     

  • Meet the team on 7 July 2023

    Come along to meet the project team at our free public drop-in information event on Friday 7 July 2023, between 10.00am and 3.00pm at Triangle Market, Lowestoft, NR32 1QA.

    We'll provide detailed information about the planned work and listen to any comments you may have.

Project information

Overview

We’re replacing a 500m section of storm drains on the A47 between Sussex Road and Lowestoft Lighthouse where local flooding can occur.

To reduce impact on the local community and avoid the summer holiday and peak tourist seasons, we will do the work in two phases.

In July, we undertook the first phase of work, doing surveys to confirm our final drainage design, as well as inspecting and jet-cleaning existing drains, and temporarily replacing any faulty drain connections.

The second phase of this work will start at the end of November 2023 for approximately four months. To make our work quicker, we will be working longer hours from 7am to 11pm (on weekdays only, weather permitting).

Once the work is done, the road will be able to cope better with storm water and will be less likely to flood. 

 

In July 2023, we did the first phase of work, doing surveys to confirm our final drainage design, as well as inspecting and jet-cleaning existing drains, and temporarily replacing any faulty drain connections.

Due to other utility work in the area after Christmas, and a commitment to minimising inconvenience to the public, our main phase of work will now need to be split up, with part of the work being undertaken before Christmas, and the rest occurring in spring/summer 2024.  

The main phase of the work will start Monday 20 November for approximately four weeks.

Phases of work

Diagram showing all 3 phases of work

Overall phases of work

Phase 1 work

Phase 1 work

Phase 2 work

Phase 2 work

Phase 3 work

Phase 3 work

Documents

Traffic information

Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.

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