Roads Minister visits £200m A47 Thickthorn junction upgrade near Norwich

Roads Minister Simon Lightwood has visited National Highways’ £200 million A47 Thickthorn improvement scheme near Norwich, marking a year since funding for the major infrastructure project was announced.

The upgrade focuses on the busy junction between the A47 and the A11 and aims to reduce congestion, improve connectivity and support economic growth across the region.

At the centre of the scheme are two new large underpasses being constructed beneath the A47 and A11 carriageways. These will create a free-flow link road designed to remove around 12,000 vehicles a day from the existing roundabout, easing congestion and improving journey reliability.

The improvements are also expected to enhance access to Norwich Hospital and Norwich Research Park, while strengthening connections to eastern ports and supporting nearby housing developments in Cringleford and Wymondham, where more than 3,000 homes are planned.

During the visit, Lightwood saw the scale of the engineering works underway.

“I’m delighted to be here in Norwich today to mark the start of works on National Highways’ junction upgrade, improving transport connectivity for the whole region,” he said.

“These new underpasses will not only mean faster journeys, but also better connecting people and businesses to new jobs, housing and ports. This is crucial for growth in Norwich and East Anglia, and the country as a whole.”

Major engineering programme

The project involves extensive preparation works, including earthworks, archaeological investigations, environmental mitigation and the relocation of utilities and drainage systems, while keeping both the A47 and A11 open to traffic.

Engineers will excavate several metres below ground level to construct the underpasses, removing around 640,000 tonnes of earth in the process.

Additional elements of the scheme include a new road and bridge over the A11 between Cantley Lane South and Norwich Road, as well as a new footbridge over the A47 to improve access for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Colin Bird, Director of Enhancements at National Highways, said the project would transform travel in the region.

“Motorways and major A roads play a key role in keeping the UK economy moving, carrying a third of all traffic and two thirds of freight,” he said. “This major project will transform journeys in and out of the region, boosting growth, reducing congestion and improving safety.”

Supporting regional growth

The Thickthorn scheme forms part of more than £500 million of investment in the region’s road network. Nearby A47 dualling projects at Blofield to the east of Norwich and Tuddenham to the west are also progressing.

The improvements are expected to support the Greater Norwich City Deal, which aims to deliver more than 44,000 homes, 33,000 jobs and 360 hectares of commercial land by 2038.

James Corker, Infrastructure Divisional Director at Skanska UK, which is delivering the project, described the work as a complex programme at a live junction.

“Our teams are bringing world-class engineering expertise to construct two major underpasses, new bridges and link roads that will improve journeys for thousands of people every day,” he said.

Environmental and community benefits

Environmental measures are also being incorporated into the scheme. More than 150 wildlife boxes will be installed, while new trees and hedgerows will be planted to replace those removed during construction. Around 800 metres of environmental fencing will also be installed to protect wildlife.

More than 300 people are currently working on the project, supported by around 30 subcontractors – many from the local area – alongside apprentices and trainees gaining experience on the scheme.

Construction is being carefully phased to keep the A47 and A11 open throughout. From December 2025 until October 2026, the A47 eastbound will operate with two lanes while westbound remains single lane. The arrangement will then reverse until autumn 2027, creating a protected work zone while avoiding lengthy road closures.