New bridge begins to take shape as major A47 upgrade in Norfolk reaches key milestone

A major milestone has been reached at the A47/A11 Thickthorn junction improvements scheme, as a new bridge over the A11 near Norwich begins to take shape.

Skanska, on behalf of National Highways, is delivering the scheme to improve safety, cut congestion and support economic growth in the region.

Across an extended weekend of works (18-20 September), six bridge beams were lifted into place using a giant crane. Each beam weighed 100 tonnes and measured 38 metres in length. The works were completed more than 24 hours ahead of schedule, enabling the A11 to re-open early, reducing disruption for people travelling in the area and the local community.

Alistair Stout, Project Director for National Highways, said: “This work represents a significant milestone for the project and another important step towards improving connectivity for local communities and road users across the area.

“We were delighted to complete the works early, enabling the A11 to re-open more than 24 hours ahead of schedule. I’d like to thank the local community and the travelling public for their patience and support as we delivered these critical works. 

“It represents another important early step in our ambitious Thickthorn junction transformation, which, once complete will improve safety and journeys for businesses and the public travelling to and from Norfolk.”

Dan Hutchings, Project Director at Skanska, said: “Installing the six beams and re-opening the road more than 24 hours early was a huge achievement by the whole team.

“It follows months of detailed planning and construction works by our delivery teams, both on and off site. This has included major earthworks and ground preparation, including the installation of around 3,000 ground improvement piles by our specialist piling team, Cementation Skanska – strengthening the embankments that will support the new road and bridge approaches.

“The main bridge components were manufactured off-site by our specialist subcontractor, Expanded. The bridge abutments and supporting elements were then brought to site and assembled ahead of the bridge beam installation. Doing much of the work off-site improves safety and efficiency while minimising disruption for local road users and reducing future maintenance requirements.”

Jonathan Paul, Project Manager at Expanded, said: “The beam lift operation for the new A11 bridge was a great success. The team were fully prepared and ready to take on the challenge presented by the closure, with months of detailed planning and preparation ensuring the works could be delivered safely and smoothly.

“This represents a key milestone for Expanded and for the wider project, and I am incredibly proud of the team for their hard work and commitment. Working closely with Skanska and our suppliers — Explore Manufacturing, Shay Murtagh and Ainscough — we were able to make this milestone a reality.

“It has been particularly rewarding to have been involved in the development of the modular flexible abutment and, having played a part in bringing the concept forward, to now see it being utilised for the first time on a live project on this new bridge over the A11 in Norfolk. It is a fantastic example of innovation moving from development into practical application.”

With the beams now installed, the main structure of the bridge is in place and ready for the next phase of works, which will focus on surfacing the bridge and connecting the road. The bridge is due to be completed this winter and will be connected to the road network in the later stages of the project.

Dan concluded: “Together with our customer, National Highways, and our supply chain partners, we have successfully delivered a major milestone for the project, and I thank everyone for their hard work and collaboration. We are now focusing on the next stage of the project.”

More than 300 people are currently working on the project, with around 40% of them drawn from the local area, including subcontractors and permanent workers. Around 30 subcontractors are on site, many locally-based, and the scheme is providing opportunities for apprentices and trainees to develop new skills.

The A47/A11 Thickthorn junction project, which began around 18 months ago, also includes two new large underpasses beneath the A47 and A11 carriageways. These will create a new free-flow link road, reducing congestion by removing around 12,000 vehicles from the roundabout each day.

Once complete, the scheme will deliver faster and more reliable journeys, better access to Norwich Hospital and Norwich Research Park, increased capacity for future traffic growth, and improvements to this important trade route to the eastern ports. The work is also vital in supporting nearby housing developments, where more than 3,000 homes are being built in Cringleford, Hethersett and Wymondham.

The project also supports the Greater Norwich City Deal, which aims to attract new businesses and unlock long-term economic growth. The wider Greater Norwich Local Plan is expected to provide for more than 44,000 homes in the area and targets 33,000 additional jobs between 2018 and 2038, with around 360 hectares of commercial land identified across the area. The overall project is due to be completed by spring 2028.