Safety schemes in the East region

We're delivering targeted speed management changes at six different locations in the East region, on the A47, A5 and A120. This is part of our ongoing commitment to reduce the number of people harmed on the region’s roads.

Start date Spring 2025

End date Winter 2025

Cost TBC

What we're doing

Safety is and always will be our number one priority, and that is why our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads.

Our aim is to improve road safety for all road users by introducing reduced speed limits, which we anticipate will reduce the frequency and severity of collisions.

Locations

To reduce the number of collisions at the following locations, we're proposing:

targeted speed limit reductions
speed camera enforcement equipment

Our proposals are based on collision and risk assessment data.

You'll also find information here about when we're working and how this will affect you.

We've completed statutory processes for this speed limit reduction scheme.

We'll be working from Monday 27 January until early summer.

We'll work overnight (8pm to 6am) on weeknights and some weekends, weather permitting.

We're making good progress with the safety improvement scheme.

Closures and Diversions

Monday 10 March to Friday 14 March

Localised traffic signals overnight (8pm to 6am).

Monday 24 March to Friday 28 March

A5 Little Brickhill to Thorn Roundabout closed in both directions overnight (8pm to 6am).

We originally planned this closure for 17 to 20 March. We've rescheduled it so as not to clash with nearby works on the M1, which use the same diversion. This should reduce the impact on road users.

Monday 31 March to late April

Localised traffic signals overnight (8pm to 6am).

A5 Laybys

We'll close laybys on the A5 between Kelly’s Kitchen, Milton Keynes and Thorn roundabout 24/7 while we are working.

Diversion for A5 Little Brickhill to Thorn Roundabout full closures

If you're travelling northbound on the A5:

you'll be diverted onto the A505/A4146 at Watling Roundabout
you'll rejoin the A5 at Kelly’s Kitchen Roundabout

If you're travelling southbound, follow the same diversion in reverse.

Escort through works for local residents

If your property is directly affected by our work, we'll escort you though the closure. You'll receive a letter with more information.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

Background

A total of 44 reported injury collisions were recorded on this route over a 5-year period with 95 casualties. We are proposing speed limit reductions at the following locations:

Section 1 –Little Brickhill and Hockliffe (a distance of approximately 6km)

Proposed reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) to 50mph, and speed camera enforcement equipment.

Section 2 –Hockliffe and Thorn Roundabout (a distance of approximately 1.75km)

Proposed reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) to 50mph, and speed camera enforcement equipment.

A5 Little Brickhill to Thorn Roundabout map.

We've successfully completed our statutory processes for this speed limit reduction scheme.

We'll be working from Monday 24 February 2025 for 10 months.

We'll work overnight (8pm to 6am) on weeknights only, weather permitting.

Closures and diversions

To work safely, we'll need to close the A47 in sections and divert traffic:

24 February to 1 May 2025

Wisbech Roundabout to Pullover Roundabout.

We're also using this closure to resurface the road between between Wisbech (Elm High Road roundabout) and Lynn Road. We'll work in two phase, phase 1 now and phase 2 closer to the end of our safety works later this year.

Diversion

If you're travelling eastbound on the A47:

you'll be diverted onto the A1101 at Wisbech Roundabout
you'll then follow the A1101 and A1122 to the A10 to rejoin the A47 at Hardwick Roundabout

If you're travelling westbound, follow the same diversion in reverse.

Wisbech to Pullover Roundabout diversion map.

Late March into April 2025

Overnight (8pm to 6am) traffic signals between Guyhirn roundabout and Elm High Road roundabout.

May 2025 to July 2025

Guyhirn Roundabout to Wisbech Roundabout.

Diversion

If you're travelling eastbound on the A47:

you'll be diverted onto the A141 at Guyhirn Roundabout
then turn left onto the A142 and follow the A142 to the A10
continue on the A10 towards Downham Market
turn left onto A1122, then continue onto the A1101
rejoin the A47 at Wisbech Roundabout

If you're travelling westbound, follow the same diversion in reverse.

Mid July 2025 to October 2025

Dogsthorpe Roundabout to Guyhirn Roundabout

Diversion

If you're travelling eastbound on the A47:

you'll be diverted onto the A15 Paston Parkway at Dogsthorpe Roundabout
then turn right onto A1139 and exit the A1139 at junction 3A onto the A605
follow to the A141 before rejoining the A47 at Guyhirn Roundabout

If you're travelling westbound, follow the same diversion in reverse.

November 2025

Dogsthorpe Roundabout to Littlewood Roundabout

Diversion

If you're travelling eastbound on the A47:

you'll be diverted onto the A15 Paston Parkway at Dogsthorpe Roundabout
continue on the A15, then turn left onto Eye road and onto the Peterborough Road (A1139)
you'll rejoin the A47 at Eye Road Roundabout

If you're travelling westbound, follow the same diversion in reverse.

Background

A total of 118 reported injury collisions were recorded on this route over a 5-year period, with 234 casualties.

We're proposing speed limit reductions at the following locations: