Work to widen a busy road near the Norwich Research Park and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is set to move into its final phase from Monday 6 August.

A three-quarter-mile stretch of the B1108 Watton Road at Colney, between the A47 and Hethersett Lane junction, will be closed to traffic for three weeks from Monday 6 August. This is to allow the old road surface to be removed, pulverised and replaced with the brand-new surface that is two metres wider.

The closure to through traffic will be in place 24/7, including weekends, until the work is complete. The work is being done in phases in order to maintain access to homes and businesses from at least one end of the closure at all times.

To minimise disruption the work is being carried out over the quieter summer months and is due to be complete by the end of August in time for the start of the new school term. A signed diversion route will be in place via the A47, A11 and Earlham Road.

This new wider section will make room for central hatch markings to separate the lanes of traffic, more space at the edge of the road, and slightly wider lanes. All these measures will allow drivers to pass cyclists more safely and enable emergency vehicles, particularly ambulances, to get through when there is heavy traffic on the road that has become increasingly busy in recent years.

Back in March, when work on the scheme first started, Martin Wilby, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Environment, Development and Transport Committee, said: “This stretch of road wasn’t designed to carry the volume of traffic it does now, so this is important work to keep all the people who use it safe, as well as help blue light vehicles respond to emergencies as quickly as possible.

“Given how narrow the existing road is, we can’t carry out the work safely without causing some disruption to people who use the road. So there will be some short-term pain but when the new widened road is complete, it should make journeys along it easier and safer.”

The road closure is necessary to enable the work to be carried out safely and for heavy equipment and vehicles to manoeuvre around the site.

The total cost of the scheme is expected to be £1,700,000. Norfolk County Council thanks people for their patience while this work is being carried out.