Works due to begin on Great Yarmouth’s Third River Crossing

The Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing will link the A47 at Harfrey’s roundabout to the port and the enterprise zone on the other side of the river. The bridge will ease traffic congestion on the town’s roads, shortening journey times and improving journey reliability, as well as supporting wider plans and work to maximise investment, regeneration and economic growth opportunities in the town and wider borough.

Construction work is set to begin on the Third River Crossing early in January 2021, with more than 50 local employment and training opportunities being created by the main contractor BAM Farrans and the wider supply chain during the delivery of the project, leaving a lasting legacy for the local area and its people.

BAM Farrans Joint Venture Project Director Tony Mulholland said;

‘We’re thrilled to be involved with the construction of Great Yarmouth’s Third River Crossing, which will offer in excess of 50 employment and training opportunities for job seekers, students, graduates and apprentices through ourselves and our supply chain within Norfolk. Whilst constructing the new lifting bridge, our positive presence in Great Yarmouth will be felt through our community engagement, local recruitment and local spend.  We will be working with local schools to involve children in the project and will be encouraging local businesses to become part of the supply chain, playing an important role in the construction of this iconic bridge. We will be working with Norfolk County Council and Norfolk Chamber to provide more details on these opportunities in the coming weeks.’

Councillor Martin Wilby, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: ‘I’m delighted to see work on the long awaited Third River Crossing get underway and the commitment BAM Farrans have made to supporting the local economy. As well as providing jobs, it will make it much easier for people living and working in the borough to get around and provide crucial support to the town’s key industries, including those linked to the offshore energy and maritime sectors, tourism and manufacturing. This is more important than ever now as we seek to help Norfolk’s economy recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.’

The welcome news of works beginning in January 2021, follows an official letter from the Department for Transport, received by Norfolk County Council on Wednesday 25 November 2020, which confirmed the approval of the government contribution of £98m, coinciding with the Chancellor's Spending Review, enabling the construction of the new bridge following the conclusion of a year-long development consent order process.

The project is expected to cost £121m overall, with the remainder of funding coming from local sources.

The Rt. Hon. Brandon Lewis CBE, MP for Great Yarmouth, said: ‘This is excellent news, the Third River Crossing will be transformational for the whole of Great Yarmouth, significantly improving traffic flows, which will help residents and visitors to get around. This improved traffic flow will also bring meaningful benefits to local businesses, especially those in the energy sector.’

Cllr Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ‘The Third River Crossing is critical infrastructure that will benefit our residents, businesses and visitors, reducing congestion and improving journey times, while supporting our wider plans with partners to maximise investment, regeneration and economic growth opportunities in the borough. The bridge is a major national investment in the borough, reflecting confidence in our growth prospects, and we are pleased the construction itself will bring local employment and training opportunities as well. I look forward to seeing the bridge beginning to take shape in the New Year.’

Chris Starkie, Chief Executive of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said: ‘I’m pleased to see construction of the much-needed third crossing in Great Yarmouth get underway. The crossing will open up key land for redevelopment, helping to maximise the potential of the harbour and the industries which it supports, particularly our world-leading energy sector.’

Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said: ‘A third river crossing in Great Yarmouth will help to improve that connectivity and create new jobs, of which 30% will be jobs for a local workforce. It will improve links across the town and to the rest of the region and reduce congestion. All of which will save local businesses time and money, whilst allowing them to increase economic growth.’

Forthcoming works

The BAM Farrans Joint Venture will begin with the upgrading of William Adams Way and the construction of the new roundabout. This will involve three night-time closures of William Adams Way between Suffolk Road and Beccles Road between 8pm and 6am on Friday 8 January to Monday 11 January 2021, to facilitate the safe removal of the existing pedestrian overbridge.

A pedestrian diversion will be in place throughout the works and the finished project will see a number of walking and cycling improvements, including the installation of a new pedestrian crossing on Williams Adam Way.

A temporary 30mph speed restriction will be in place along William Adams Way from Monday 11 January 2021 and will remain in place for the duration of the project.

In addition to the works on William Adams Way, works will also commence at the junction of Queen Anne’s Road/Southtown Road in January. BAM Farrans Joint Venture will be reopening the junction onto the Southtown Road to allow access to be maintained when the existing Queens Anne’s junction onto Suffolk Road is permanently closed to vehicles and pedestrians from June 2021.

BAM Farrans Joint Venture Project manager Richard Hayman, said:

‘The weekend night closure is essential and has been carefully planned to minimise disruption, but will be subject to weather conditions, particularly if there are high wind speeds.’

Please be assured we are focused on keeping disruption and inconvenience to a minimum and further communication will follow as the project progresses. We will keep you informed every step of the way via regular newsletters and monthly e-news updates.

For more information on the Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing, visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/3rc.

Click here for the original press release.