The scheme will see a new 2.5-mile road built to the
east of Long Stratton, ensuring faster and smoother
journeys while directly supporting plans for 1,800
new homes and the development of new employment land
in the area. The bypass is designed to significantly
ease congestion through the town, reducing noise and
air pollution while providing better accessibility to
the town centre for cyclists and pedestrians.
The investment comes as part of the government’s
drive to build back better from the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic and boost transport links across
the country.
Roads Minister Baroness Vere said:
This new scheme will provide a huge boost to Long
Stratton and Norfolk by ensuring faster, smoother
journeys, cutting congestion and noise pollution,
and allowing the construction of 1,800 new homes in
the area.
This government is dedicated to levelling up across
the country and we will continue to support
regional economies by investing in vital local
transport projects like this one.
Cllr Martin Wilby,
Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for highways,
infrastructure and transport and member of the
Transport East partnership, said:
This is fantastic news and a most timely
announcement from government, particularly in view
of the COVID-19 recovery. The A140 through Long
Stratton is a real pinch point that affects
thousands of road users and the people who live and
work in Long Stratton, on a daily basis.
We want to deliver this vital scheme as soon as
possible to cut congestion, help the local economy
and vastly improve this major regionally important
route linking Norwich and Ipswich. The bypass is
set to create hundreds of new jobs and homes, open
up improvements for cycling and walking, and solve
traffic and transport issues local people have been
facing for more than a generation.
Currently, journeys in and out of Long Stratton are
often very slow along the narrow route into the town
centre. The new bypass, with speed limits of between
50 mph and 60
mph, will
significantly reduce journey times. It will include 3
new roundabout junctions as well as a new footbridge
to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross safely.
The full cost of the Long Stratton Bypass scheme will
be £37.4 million, with Norfolk County Council
securing £9.2 million on top of the government’s
£26.2 million investment.
