National Highways’ £100 million project to dual the Blofield to North Burlingham stretch of the A47 in Norfolk is entering its final stages, promising a less congested and safer route that will open up the area to business.
The scheme has replaced a single lane 2.6-mile stretch of carriageway with a new two-lane dual carriageway, with only local road surfacing, cycle ways and landscaping left to complete.
To mark the moment, a new bridge – linking the villages of North Burlingham and Blofield – is being named “Knights Bridge” in honour of heroic local woman Valerie Knights, who used to come to the aid of motorists involved in collisions on the road before it was dualled.
Chris Griffin, leading the Blofield project for National Highways, said:
“With construction of the project in its final stages, the new dual carriageway will mean a less congested, much safer road which will open the area up to business.
“Mrs Knights campaigned for greater safety on this stretch of road, and I know she would have been delighted to see the completion of the new dualling. It is only right and fitting that we name this bridge after her, which will stand as a lasting legacy to her selfless work helping more than 100 people involved in collisions here.”
Mrs Knights’ family gathered to unveil the sign on the bridge in her honour.
Daughter Carol Charles (pictured above) said:
“It is a really special honour for my mother to be remembered in this way but she would have been surprised as she quietly got on with things.”
Jerome Mayhew, MP for Broadland and Fakenham, said:
“It will be a huge relief for local residents to see the new dual carriageway open, relieving congestion and tackling some of the safety concerns of the old road. Better road connections help our economy to grow and support local businesses.”
Safety improvements have been made at the Yarmouth Road junction at Blofield, where the right turn has been closed and a dedicated lane added to join the A47. The B1140 junction has been transformed too, with a new two-tier junction connecting B1140 South Walsham Road (north of the A47) with B1140 Coxhill Road (south of the A47).
National Highways is also installing new cycle paths, linking North Burlingham and Blofield, and has committed to no net loss of habitats or biodiversity as a result of the project. In fact, there will be a 40 per cent net gain in biodiversity, with new hedgerows and areas of woodland to be planted this winter, alongside scrub and grassland to increase habitats for badgers and reptiles. And local community groups have benefited from more than £300,000 from its “designated funds” pot, including new playgrounds and a dementia garden.
Mrs Knights, who lived at North Burlingham, had campaigned tirelessly for road safety measures and spent a lifetime dedicating herself to the needs of others. When she heard about the Glaven Care Scheme, she decided to start a similar scheme in the Acle area. With support from local doctors, Acle Voluntary Aid (AVA) started in 1978, with volunteers providing care in a crisis, including night sitting, shopping and transport assistance, and developing a daycare and lunch club service at Acle Methodist church. AVA won awards from Whitbread, Great Yarmouth’s Rotary Club, and Age Concern. In 1994, Mrs Knights was made an MBE for her initiative.
(Pictures: National Highways)
