Safety schemes in the East region

We're proposing 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 proposals aim 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 starting work on Monday 27 January for around 13 weeks.

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

Closures

To work safely, we'll need to close the A5 and divert traffic:

Monday 27 to Friday 31 January

A5 Little Brickhill to Thorn Roundabout closed in both directions.

Monday 3 February to Friday 21 February (weeknights only)

Lane closures on the A5 from Little Brickhill to Thorn Roundabout.

Monday 24 February to Friday 14 March (weeknights only)

A5 Little Brickhill to Thorn Roundabout closed in both directions.

Monday 17 to Friday 21 March

A5 Little Brickhill to Thorn Roundabout.

Traffic signals will be in place 

Monday 24 March to early May (weeknights only)

A5 Little Brickhill to Thorn Roundabout closed in both directions.

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.

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:

Section 1 - between A15 Paston Parkway to Oversley Lodge roundabout (a distance of approximately 7.09km).

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

Section 2 – between Thorney New Cut roundabout to Thorney Toll (a distance of approximately 2.42km)

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

Section 3 – Thorney Toll village (a distance of approximately 568m)

Proposed reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) to 40mph.

Section 4 – between Thorney Toll to Guyhirn (a distance of approximately 4.5km)

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

Section 5 – between Guyhirn to Wisbech (a distance of approximately 14km)

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

Section 6 – between Shoreboat Roundabout to Pullover roundabout (a distance of approximately 3.3km)

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

A47 Peterborough to Kings Lynn map.

A total of 27 reported injury collisions were recorded on this route over a 5-year period with 41 casualties. We are proposing a speed limit reduction at the following location:

Between Little Fransham to the Dereham Bypass (a distance of approximately 8.3km)

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

A47 Little Fransham to Dereham map.

Between Necton and Little Fransham (a distance of approximately 2km)

In addition to the above section, as part of a rationalisation of speed limits in this area of the A47, we also propose a speed limit reduction on the length of the A47 between Necton and Little Fransham (a distance of approximately 2km)

A total of 7 reported injury collisions were recorded on this section over a 5-year period with 16 casualties.

A47 Necton to Little Fransham map.

A total of 54 reported injury collisions were recorded on this route over a 5-year period with 138 casualties. We are proposing a speed limit reduction at the following location:

Between Acle and Great Yarmouth (a distance of approximately 11km)

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

A47 Acle to Great Yarmouth map.

A total of 68 injury collisions were recorded on this route over a 5-year period between 2015 to 2019 with 118 casualties. We are proposing speed limit reductions at the following locations:

Section 1 – between Bradwell and the existing 50mph speed limit on the Coggeshall bypass (a distance of approximately 3.9 km)

Proposed reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) sections to 50mph, and speed camera enforcement equipment. The existing 40mph speed limit through Bradwell is proposed to be extended approximately 635m to the east.

Section 2 – from the existing 50mph speed limit on the Coggeshall bypass to Marks Tey (a distance of approximately 1.72km)

Proposed reduction of the existing National Speed Limit (60mph) sections to 50mph. Speed camera enforcement equipment is also proposed.

A120 Braintree to Marks Tey map.

A total of 32 reported injury collisions were recorded on this route over a 5-year period with 63 casualties. We are proposing a speed limit reduction at the following location:

Between Horsley Cross roundabout and Parkeston (a distance of approximately 13km)

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

A120 Horsley Cross to Parkeston map.

Project information

We’re always exploring ways to make our roads safer through a better understanding of driver behaviour. We do this using collision data, risk assessments and insights.

We're proposing several speed management changes to reduce collisions.

Safety is and will always be our number one priority.

Our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads.

Achieving this shared vision will benefit: