Great Yarmouth’s Third River Crossing takes another step forward

Construction of the new lifting bridge over the River Yare is due to begin in late 2020 and would see a bridge built linking the A47 at Harfrey’s Roundabout on the western side of the river to South Denes Road Road on the eastern side of the river.

The County Council submitted its DCO application in late April and heard today that it had been accepted. A detailed examination period of the application and any other representations will now follow, which is likely to begin later this year and take up to six months.

Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport at Norfolk County Council, said: ‘A huge amount of time, effort and expertise went into getting this application in and we’re all really pleased it’s been accepted. This keeps us on track to hopefully be granted a Development Consent Order by the end of summer next year, start construction by the end of 2020, and get the Third River Crossing open to traffic by early 2023. We expect the new bridge to make a big difference to Great Yarmouth, reducing traffic congestion, making it easier and quicker for people to get around, and improving access from the port and enterprise zone to the A47. We’re keen to get started and this decision from the Planning Inspectorate is another important step along the way.’

Cllr Carl Smith, Leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ‘The borough council actively supported partnership lobbying to unlock the funding for the bridge, which will significantly improve traffic flows, help to create thousands of jobs and unlock further business, regeneration and economic growth opportunities. This news is another positive step forward for this nationally-significant infrastructure project, which has already secured £98m from the Government, demonstrating a national vote of confidence in both the local and regional economies.’

In November 2017 Norfolk County Council was awarded £98 million towards the anticipated £120 million cost of building the Third River Crossing by the Department for Transport. Then in February 2018 the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed the Third River Crossing as a nationally significant project.

As a result, Norfolk County Council was required to make an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO), which, if granted next year, would give the council permission from the Secretary of State to construct, operate and maintain the bridge and its approaches.

In January this year, the council announced it had awarded the contract for the Third River Crossing to BAM Farrans, a joint venture between two construction industry leaders.

Since their appointment, BAM Nuttall and Farrans Construction have finalised the design of the twin leaf bascule bridge with the counterweights below-deck. BAM Farrans will also construct the bridge on behalf of the County Council.

For more information on the Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing, visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/3rc.

For details of cabinet members, committee chairs and agendas, please see: www.norfolk.gov.uk/cabinetandchairs

Group leaders’ and councillors’ contact details are available at: www.norfolk.gov.uk/countycouncillors

Further information: Communications Team at Norfolk County Council, pressoffice@norfolk.gov.uk.

Attachments

• A side view of what the finished bridge could look like
• An overhead view of what the finished bridge could look like
• Great Yarmouth’s Third River Crossing takes anothor step forward