Major roadwork schemes on two of Norfolk’s busiest routes have created severe disruption for drivers and commuters, sparking calls for better coordination between authorities. The combination of multiple projects along key arteries has left many questioning how Norfolk roadworks disruption has been allowed to reach this scale.
A £200 million upgrade of the Thickthorn junction on the A11, near Norwich, is one of the most significant infrastructure schemes in the county. However, the project has coincided with a lane closure on the A47 southern bypass between Little Melton and the A140 Ipswich Road. With both taking place simultaneously, traffic congestion has intensified, frustrating residents and businesses across the region.
National Highways has acknowledged there would inevitably be some inconvenience in order to complete the improvements. But South Norfolk Labour MP Ben Goldsborough has been outspoken about the situation, arguing that the various bodies involved have failed to plan effectively. “Time and time again, are people not thinking things through?” he asked, describing the situation as “a nightmare.”
Mr Goldsborough criticised the lack of coordination between Highways England and Norfolk County Council, both of which have separate responsibilities for different parts of the road network. “The thing that annoys me, and I think annoys a lot of constituents as well, is we’ve got Highways England responsible for the work at the A47 at East Tuddenham, Thickthorn, and Blofield, but Norfolk County Council is responsible for things like the B1135 [a new roundabout at Hethel] – and they’re not talking to each other. Everything is being done all at once.”
The overlapping projects include not only the Thickthorn upgrade and A47 lane closures but also the dualling of the A47 to both the west and east of the city. A full closure is planned for the weekend, compounding the ongoing Norfolk roadworks disruption.
The impact on public transport has been significant. Peter Nathanail, managing director of Transport Made Simple, which operates Konectbus services, reported that 40% of its Dereham to Norwich buses ran late last week as a direct result of the works. “That’s a major impact for thousands of passengers who use that critical transport link, every day,” he explained. While he expressed support for the long-term benefits of improving the junction, he warned that unreliable services could drive passengers away permanently. “My concern is that if bus services become unreliable, people find other ways of travelling and they move away from that sustainable travel for good.”
Local businesses are also feeling the strain. Oliver Medler, director of J Medler Haulage in Taverham, said that while the upgrades at Thickthorn were necessary, the scale of overlapping projects was unprecedented. “I’ve never seen that before, in the 18 years I’ve been doing this; they should concentrate on one big project at a time,” he said. He noted that the delays were affecting driver schedules and increasing operational difficulties. “It will definitely make a difference to the bottom line, and I can’t put a higher price on a job just because of some roadworks, because you end up losing out to another haulier. It is frustrating.”
In response to mounting criticism, Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport at Norfolk County Council, defended the council’s approach. He stated that its teams worked to coordinate with National Highways and other partners “to minimise disruption wherever possible.” However, he highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that around 40,000 to 50,000 sets of roadworks typically take place in Norfolk each year, with roughly 7,000 of those classed as emergency works.
“It’s simply not feasible to suspend all other activity while these major projects are under way,” Mr Plant said. He added that traffic management for the Thickthorn junction upgrade would continue until spring 2027, meaning that halting all nearby works was impossible. “We will continue to monitor the situation and make improvements to traffic management wherever we can, but due to the scale and nature of these infrastructure projects, some impact on the road network is unfortunately unavoidable.”
For now, Norfolk roadworks disruption looks set to continue for several years, testing the patience of drivers and businesses alike. While the long-term benefits of better roads and infrastructure are clear, the current congestion highlights the delicate balance between progress and practicality.
