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Great Yarmouth third river crossing: Demolition starts for £120m scheme

BBC Houses being demolishedBBC
Houses were bought by the council and are now being demolished to make way for the third river crossing

Major demolition works have started in preparation for the construction of a coastal town's third river crossing.

The bridge in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, is estimated to cost £120m and will link the Harfreys Industrial Estate A47 roundabout to South Denes Road.

The demolition of vacant properties on Queen Anne's Road is under way.

Norfolk County Council's deputy leader, Graham Plant, said the bridge would ease traffic congestion and shorten journey times.

Further demolition is planned for Southtown Road and commercial units within the Suffolk Road Enterprise Park, followed by work on the eastern approach to the former South Denes Car Centre to allow the creation of new approach road structures.

Norfolk County Council Map of Great Yarmouth proposed river crossingNorfolk County Council
An artist's impression of how the roundabouts and bridge would be linked

Mr Plant said the development, which was given £98m in government funding, was a "highly significant" scheme which would "integrate with several other local development projects set to transform the town of Great Yarmouth".

"This will mean easier transition from Gorleston to Great Yarmouth. It will mean the port area will have complete access to the A47, a main route out of the town," he said.

Mr Plant added: "It will make it much easier for people living and working in the borough to get around and provide crucial support to the town's key industries."

The bascule bridge will be made in two halves by a specialist firm in Belgium before being transported by sea and up the River Yare to be installed.

It would then be lifted into place over a 72-hour window in October 2022, in order to minimise disruption to port businesses, said co-project director Tony Mulholland.

"The small window means we can't afford for anything to go wrong. There's been a lot of thought and a lot of planning gone into this," he added.

All demolition works in this first phase of construction will be completed by the end of April, with the new bridge due to open in 2023.

Houses being demolished
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