Drivers travelling on the A11 in Norfolk are being promised safer and smoother journeys as National Highways begins work on a multi-million pound upgrade to the concrete road surface this weekend.
Starting on Sunday 24 October, National Highways will begin work on a scheme to repair and replace the surface of the A11 between Spooner Row and Thickthorn Interchange in Norfolk, as a part of a nationwide drive to revitalise roads with concrete road surfaces across the country.
The scheme is part of Highways England’s nationwide drive to revitalise concrete roads in England. Up to £400 million will be invested over the next five years to 2025.
The surface of the A11 was laid between the 1950s and 1970s. Despite providing many years of virtually maintenance free life, decades of use and hundreds of millions of journeys have left the road in need of a vital upgrade which will improve safety, boost ride quality and reduce noise.
As well as repairing potholes and resurfacing the road surface, the project will also see new road markings, studs laid (cat’s eyes), and drains cleared.
Ken Jurden, National Highways Concrete Roads Programme Delivery Manager, said, “The A11 is a vital route for thousands of drivers every day providing a reliable route for work journeys and home deliveries, visits to friends and family, holidays and the movement of the goods and services between London and East Anglia.
“The concrete road surface of the A11 is in place now more than 60 years old, and despite serving us well over the decades, it’s now in need of vital repairs and maintenance. Our work over the coming months will help make this important route smoother and safer for the thousands of drivers that rely on it every day.”
Concrete roads make up almost 400 miles (4%) of England’s motorway and major A-road network. Mostly found along the eastern side of the country, as well as in the North East, Yorkshire, East Anglia and the South East, there are also some smaller stretches in other parts of England.
To complete the work National Highways will split the programme into two phases:
- Phase one will see concrete road segments on the A11 main carriageway between Tuttles Interchange and the Thickthorn Interchange replaced, and other sections where potholes and cracks in the concrete are less severe will be repaired.
- Phase two in spring 2022 will see the reconstruction of the A11 between Spooner Row and the Tuttles Interchange. A reconstruction involves removing the road surface and some foundations, before rebuilding the road with recycled material and asphalt.
To carry out the work on phase one safely and with minimal disruption to drivers, local communities and the surrounding area, National Highways will close the A11 between Tuttles and Thickthorn every evening from 20:00 Sunday to 06:00 Friday from 24 October.
When the road is closed a signed diversion route will be in place that will take traffic along the B1172, and National Highways will encourage larger vehicles to use a more suitable route along the A1066 and A140.
Phase two of the scheme is expected to start in spring 2022.
(Picture – National Highways)
