Long-awaited A47 road project to go ahead

The A47/A11 Thickthorn Junction scheme in Norwich has received the green light from the government, following over a year of delays. The road development is to be backed by £200 million and will speed up journey times, as well as facilitating 44,000 new homes in the area, creating 33,000 new jobs and 360 new hectares of commercial land by 2038 through supporting the Greater Norwich City Deal.

The plans include constructing two new slip roads to connect the A47 with the A11, rerouting traffic away from the junction, as well as safer pedestrian and cycle routes which are predicted to save as many as 26 fatal or serious injury collisions over the next 60 years.

Commuters, businesses, and freight will save hundreds of hours off journeys each week, with eastbound drivers (A11 to A47) saving three to four minutes off journeys in peak travel times. Along the A11, drivers will also see a two to three minute reduction in peak time journeys.

Legal challenges have previously prevented the A47 from getting the go ahead, such as being challenged in courts three times, and so today’s (27th February 2025) announcement comes as part of the government’s mission to remove barriers to element and “clear the path to get Britain building”, as emphasised by the prime minister. The government has already approved the A130 Fairglen Interchange, the A647 scheme in Leeds and is supporting the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

The minister for the future of roads Lilian Greenwood visited the A47 to mark the occasion and said: “This scheme is finally getting the go-ahead it deserves, after years of expensive legal blocks, as we are now able to unlock this vital scheme that Norwich has waited long for. We are determined to get Britain building again as this scheme is set to not only improve journeys but create thousands of new homes and jobs.

“To help deliver our Plan for Change, we’re investing in more vital road schemes such as this over £200 million funding for Norwich, and the recently announced £90 million for other schemes across England, to renew our national infrastructure, speed up journeys and revive economic growth.”