Major demolition works underway for Great Yarmouth's Third River Crossing
The site is being made ready
Last updated 25th Feb 2021
Major demolition works began in Great Yarmouth this week to make way for the town's Third River Crossing, one of the key infrastructure projects for the county being delivered by Norfolk County Council.
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 improve journey reliability, as well as supporting wider plans and work to maximise investment, regeneration and economic growth opportunities in the town and wider area.
After establishing the construction site throughout January and some early test piling works, the demolition of a number of vacant properties on Queen Anne's Road is now underway, with further demolition planned for Southtown Road and commercial units within the Suffolk Road Enterprise Park in the coming weeks.
Further demolition works will then take place on the eastern approach to the former South Denes Car Centre to allow the creation of new approach road structures and walking and cycling routes linked to the new bridge.
Councillor Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council's deputy leader and Borough Councillor for Great Yarmouth said:
"A great deal of work has gone into getting us to this point and I'm delighted to see us reach this first key milestone in making the long awaited Third River Crossing a reality for the people of Great Yarmouth.
"It's a highly significant infrastructure project for the county council which will integrate with several other local development projects set to transform the town of Great Yarmouth in the coming years, creating local jobs both now and in the future.
"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 as we seek to help Norfolk's economy recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic."
All demolition works in this first phase of the construction will be completed by the end of April 2021 with the new bridge due to open to the public in 2023.
BAM Farrans Joint Venture Project Director Tony Mulholland said:
"Work on site is progressing well and we are 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".
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."
Chris Starkie, Chief Executive of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
"I'm pleased to see work on the much-needed third crossing in Great Yarmouth is progressing well. 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 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."