Major Norwich road set for speed limit change and new bus lane

The speed limit on part of the A140 Ipswich Road in Norwich is set to be reduced to 40mph (Image: Dan Grimmer / Newsquest / Mike Page)

The speed limit on one of the main roads in and out of Norwich could be cut, in plans which would also see a new bus lane created.

Norfolk County Council wants to lower the speed limit on the A140 Ipswich Road to 40mph between the turning to the Marsh Harrier pub and the Harford Park and Ride site.

The Harford Park and Ride site

The council also intends to create a new, 24-hour, bus lane in the northbound carriageway, running from the park and ride site to just before the turn-off to the Harford Bridge Tesco superstore.

Officers at Conservative-controlled County Hall said the new bus lane aimed to get more people using buses, by helping to make services more frequent and reliable.

They said the A140 can become very congested in the area around the park and ride site, especially during peak hours.

They said: "The introduction of an inbound bus lane has been assessed and is shown to meet the aims of the Bus Service Improvement Plans set by Norfolk County Council, which includes objectives to improve bus route journey time reliability and encourage sustainable transportation options."

As well as buses, taxis and cyclists would also be allowed to make use of the new bus lane.

Officers said the proposed 40mph limit, replacing the current 60mph limit, would improve safety for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Consultation over the new bus lane was carried out in 2023, but County Hall has just started the legal process to introduce the traffic order to bring in the changes.

Any objections and representations relating to that order must be made in writing and must specify the grounds on which they are made.

People have until Tuesday, June 3 to make their representations, which can be emailed to trafficorders@norfolk.gov.uk or sent to nplaw, Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DH, marked for the attention of the nplaw Traffic Regulation Order Team.

The schemes are among a number of projects funded by £49.6m awarded by the Department for Transport to the county council so bus services could be improved.