“Huge step forward” for Great Yarmouth’s third river crossing as County Council wins government funding

The Autumn Budget contained some great news for Norfolk as Chancellor Philip Hammond announced approval of the Outline Business Case for the £120m third river crossing in Great Yarmouth (November 22nd).The much-anticipated announcement means the project has been awarded ‘programme entry status’ by the Department for Transport and Norfolk County Council has the government’s financial backing to develop the project further, including developing the details ahead of progressing through the statutory processes to enable construction to start. It also keeps the County Council’s ambition of starting construction on the new bridge in 2020 a possibility.Norfolk County Council’s plan for a third river crossing would see a lifting bridge constructed linking the A47 (formerly A12) at the Harfreys roundabout in the Southtown area of Yarmouth to the port and the enterprise zone on the other side of the river. The new bridge would help to reduce traffic build-up on the town’s roads, particularly on its existing Haven and Breydon bridges over the River Yare which often become congested during ‘rush hour’ times and peak tourist seasons.The County Council made the third river crossing one of its infrastructure priorities last year in recognition of its potential to attract future investment and development to the area, creating skilled jobs, business opportunities and giving local people a better quality of life.