A47 dualling high on county wishlist
Dualling of the A47 between Easton and North Tuddenham is in Norfolk County Council's top six road project wish list.The importance of the project was revealed as transport authorities across the region submitted their requests to the East of England Regional Assembly for projects they want to see built in the next round of allocations from 2013.
Dualling of the A47 between Easton and North Tuddenham is in Norfolk County Council's top six road project wish list.
The importance of the project was revealed as transport authorities across the region submitted their requests to the East of England Regional Assembly for projects they want to see built in the next round of allocations from 2013.
Across the region, 108 transport schemes have been put forward and the Assembly is expected to shortlist and prioritise them by February. Only 23 were prioritised last time around.
In Norfolk, finishing the A11 dualling is the number one priority, and in pole position to go ahead.
But County Hall is also resubmitting existing A47 dualling proposals for the stretch between North Tuddenham and Easton - a scheme for which local people have been campaigning for many years.
Some improvement work at junctions has been carried out to improve safety, including at the turning to Hockering. And work is well under way on a new £1.8m roundabout at the Mattishall Road turn-off at Honingham. Between June 2001 and May 2006, there were three fatal crashes, five serious-injury and eight slight-injury collisions on that stretch of the A47.
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However, roads campaigners may soon find themselves battling over the same pot of money as those pushing for low-cost homes.
Transport chiefs are pressing for funding changes to the way regional schemes are delivered to help smaller projects emerge from the shadows of larger regional transport plans.
But much of the cash would have to come from budgets set aside for low-cost homes, because the existing roads budget is already forecast to be £44m overspent.
Backers of a funding change believe that with the housing slowdown, much of the money for new homes is lying idle, because homes are not being built. Using it to pay for new roads could free up land for homes at a later date.
Norfolk County Council is among the authorities pushing for a shift.
