A47 Great Yarmouth junctions improvements

Latest updates

• 22 March 2022

  Surveys continue

  We are continuing with important surveys in the areas around the Vauxhall and Harfrey’s Roundabouts. These include ecology, noise and landscape surveys that will help us to make refinements to our design to make sure we don’t have a significant impact on the surrounding environment.

  In Spring, we’ll be carrying out ground investigations at the Vauxhall Roundabout. The investigations will give engineers a clearer picture of the type of soils, rock and groundwater beneath the area of the roundabout. You can expect to see survey vehicles and equipment in operation close to the Vauxhall Roundabout, but this is not the start of any construction work to improve the A47 Great Yarmouth Junctions.

• 10 January 2022

  Deadline for providing feedback has passed

  The scheme update period for the A47 Great Yarmouth junctions improvements scheme reached its conclusion on Monday 10 January. During this period, we shared our updated designs for the Harfrey’s and Vauxhall Roundabouts and invited feedback from the public and stakeholders. We also held three in-person events and hosted a virtual exhibition room.

  What happens next 

  All feedback we have received during the scheme update period will be formally reviewed by the project team and compiled into a consultation report. This report will be made available shortly.

• 29 November 2021

  Winter 2021: Scheme Update

  We’ve made updates to our proposals for the A47 Great Yarmouth Junctions improvements and we’d like to hear what you think, so please share any concerns, ideas or local knowledge that you may have. The scheme update will run for six weeks, from Monday 29 November 2021 and Monday 10 January 2022. 

  Virtual Exhibition Room

  One way you can find out more about our proposals is to visit our Virtual Exhibition Room. This can be accessed at any time convenient to you and includes all the materials that you would be able to find at a public exhibition, such as maps and environmental information. We have provided instructions to help you navigate the room. There is also a leaflet which provides more detail about the latest design within the update.

  Public Information Events

  One of the best ways to find out more about our proposals and have your say is to come to one of our public information events. Here you’ll be able to find out more about the scheme and speak to members of the project team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

  Venue	Date	Time
  Autumn Years Clubhouse 45 North Quay, Great Yarmouth, NR30 1JE	Monday 6 December 2021	12pm to 4pm
  14 Albert Square Great Yarmouth, NR30 3JH	Tuesday 7 December 2021	4pm to 8pm
  Kingsgate Community Church 30 Queen Anne’s Road, Great Yarmouth, NR31 0LE	Wednesday 8 December 2021	10am to 2pm

  Please respond using one of the following methods:

  Email:

  A47GreatYarmouthJunctionsRIS@highwaysengland.co.uk

  Call us on:

  0300 123 5000

  Write to us at:

  A47 Great Yarmouth
  National Highways
  Woodlands
  Manton Lane
  Bedford
  MK41 7LW

  Proposals reviewed

  Following the preferred route announcement in August 2017, the original proposals have been reviewed in light of the Third River Crossing, which was awarded government funding shortly after our original proposals were announced.

  The modelling completed for the Third River Crossing project showed notable changes in the way traffic accessed Great Yarmouth town and port areas. We have therefore been working collaboratively with Norfolk County Council to review the changes in traffic flows and how they impact traffic using the A47 and its junctions.

  Originally, we proposed to improve the Vauxhall and Gapton Roundabouts. However, updated traffic modelling showed that these changes would no longer bring the intended benefits to the future road network, once the Third River Crossing is open. We are now looking at improving the Vauxhall and Harfrey’s Roundabouts instead.

  Our proposals have therefore been redesigned to take these new circumstances into account. As a result, we are no longer looking to change the Gapton Roundabout, and have instead designed improvements to the Harfreys Roundabout.

  We are still proposing changes to the Vauxhall Roundabout, but improvements to the junction with Station Road have been removed from the design as this work has already been completed by Norfolk County Council. The improvements to the junctions will be delivered once the Third River Crossing is in place.

• 30 July 2019

  Traffic modelling and assessment

  In August 2017 we made our Preferred Route Announcement confirming that the options shown would be progressed to the detailed design phase because they reduce congestion and provide value for money. The anticipated benefits will be reviewed once further traffic-modelling has taken place, to ensure that any investment delivers value for money.

  This scheme has been paused pending a review. Since the preferred route announcement of the Highways England scheme, the Great Yarmouth ‘Third River Crossing’ was awarded funding by the Department for Transport. An initial assessment commissioned by Highways England has indicated that the Third River Crossing may have a significant impact on traffic flows in Great Yarmouth, which will need to be re-assessed.

  We have agreed with the Department for Transport that we will pause work on our current proposed designs and undertake further traffic modelling and assessment. Highways England will continue to work collaboratively with Norfolk County Council to reassess traffic flows in the area so that agreement can be reached as to what is required to improve the road network in Great Yarmouth.