Work to start on A47 at Guyhirn Roundabout

The work will run into next year

Author: Sharon PlummerPublished 1st Feb 2021
Last updated 1st Feb 2021

Work is due to start this month to increase the size of the roundabout at Guyhirn junction with the aim of completing the work in April 2022.

It's part of a ÂŁ300million pound improvement plan to the A47 at six places between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth.

Highway England say they'll start with some vegetation clearance before moving onto construction work.

During construction, the following will be in place:

Narrow lanes

To keep traffic moving, all the lanes on the road will be kept open but reduce the width of the lanes to minimise disruption to motorists.

Speed limit

A temporary 30mph speed limit will be in place through the roadworks for safety reasons.

Temporary roundabouts

Highways Engand will install two temporary roundabouts to keep traffic moving whilst they remove the existing roundabout and build the new wider one. One of the temporary roundabouts will be at Guyhirn junction, the other will be at Gull Road so motorists won’t have to go through roadworks when exiting this junction.

Road closures

For the safety of the public and workers, they will need some road closures when they start our work, and again in autumn 2021 for resurfacing the road. Some of the diversions may be long, but Highways England will aim to only close one road onto the roundabout at a time and limit road closures to night times between 8.00pm to 6.00am.

Traffic will be diverted when the road is closed. We’ll provide more details of diversion routes closer to the time.

Diversions for road closures south of Guyhirn roundabout

A47 west closed:

Head west on the A47 until the A1139. Join the A1139 and travel south to the A605. Follow the A605 and travel east until the A141 and head north until re-joining with the A47.

A47 east closed:

Head south on the A141 and then exit to the A605 and travel west to the A1139. Follow the A1139 heading north until re-joining the A47.

Diversions for road closures to north and west of Guyhirn roundabout

A47 north closed:

Head west on the A47 until the A16. Join the A16 and travel north to the A151. Join the A151 heading east until the A17, join the A17 and travel east and then re-join the A47.

A47 south closed:

Head north on A47 until the A17. Join the A17 and travel west until the A151. Follow the A151 West to the A16, join the A16 and travel south until you re-join the A47.

Diagram of diversions for road closures to North and West of Guyhirn roundabout

Working hours

Highways England will be working during both day and night time from Mondays to Saturdays and occasionally on some Sundays.

Daytime work hours will be between 7.00am and 7.00pm. Night time hours will be between 8.00pm and 6.00am when there is less traffic.

Public footpaths

Public footpaths will be kept open for walkers and cyclists, although some slight changes will need to be made to the existing routes.

Lighting

The existing streetlights will be removed and replaced with temporary lights throughout the construction period, to help maintain safety for all road users.

Noise

At times, some work will be noisy. Highways England will be working closely with communities who may be affected to manage this wherever possible, particularly around Old March Road. Towards the end of the project, they will build a permanent acoustic and light barrier at the south side of the roundabout adjacent to Old March Road.

Wisbech MP, Steve Barclay has said he'll continue to lobby Parliament to dual the A47 between Wisbech and Peterborough for the benefit of both residents and the economy.

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