Long Stratton Bypass to be considered for national funding

Four Norfolk road projects designed to provide traffic relief will be put forward for national funding consideration after being made regional priorities.

Transport East was asked by the Department for Transport to agree its regional priorities for significant road projects that could be constructed between 2020 and 2025.

As a result, Norfolk County Council has won regional support for its four projects, including a bypass for Long Stratton.

Martin Wilby, cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: “This regional backing opens the door to bringing national investment into Norfolk for these much-needed road projects, so it’s a vital step along the way to making them a reality.”

Long Stratton bypass would be a 2.5-mile single carriageway route to the east of the town and would form part of the A140 that links Norwich and Ipswich.

The bypass would relieve traffic congestion in and around Long Stratton, while helping to create 625 new jobs and 1,800 new homes.

It is estimated to cost £29 million, with the majority of this being sought from the Department for Transport and a significant contribution by a housing developer.

Construction on the bypass is due to start in the first half of 2022, with the road open to traffic in 2024.

Following the decision by Transport East, business cases for the four Norfolk projects – the Norwich western link, Long Stratton bypass, West Winch housing access road and a complete redesign of the A47/A17 Pullover junction to the west of King’s Lynn – were submitted to the Department for Transport on Tuesday.