Motorists will be able to use around half of the new carriageway on the £200 million-plus A47 dualling scheme between Easton and North Tuddenham in Norfolk later this year, National Highways has confirmed.
The agency said the five-and-a-half-mile scheme remains on track for full opening in 2027, with the next major milestone being the opening of the western section between the scheme’s western end and Wood Lane.
Chris Griffin, programme manager at National Highways, said construction had made good progress over the summer, with favourable weather allowing work to continue at pace.
“There has been a lot of progress,” he said. “We have had a good summer, in that the hot weather enabled us to get on with the construction, and we completed the section at Easton.
“The next major stage will be opening the road from the western end to Wood Lane later this year. That will mean motorists will be driving on half of the scheme, and we are still on track for full opening in 2027.”
The scheme is being delivered by contractor Galliford Try and will upgrade the existing single-carriageway A47 to dual carriageway between Easton and North Tuddenham.
The next phase of construction will require overnight traffic management between the Honingham roundabout and Wood Lane.
One lane of the A47 will be closed from 8pm to 6am on Thursday 17, Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September, while temporary traffic lights will be installed to maintain two-way traffic.
The restrictions are required to allow work on a new junction and access road between the Honingham roundabout and Wood Lane junction.
National Highways has warned motorists to expect some short delays while the traffic management is in place. The Easton to North Tuddenham project is one of several major A47 schemes being progressed in Norfolk.
National Highways is also completing the dualling scheme between Blofield and North Burlingham, while work continues on the redevelopment of Thickthorn roundabout on the outskirts of Norwich, where the A47 and A11 meet.
The Thickthorn project will divert traffic away from the existing roundabout through new underpasses beneath the A47 and A11.
(Picture: National Highways)
