The controversial £4.4m revamp of one of Norwich's busiest roundabout is about to start, bringing road closures and delays for a whopping eight months.
Work on the Heartsease roundabout will start on Monday, September 11 and will carry on until April next year, council bosses have announced.
While County Hall officers say three arms of the roundabout - Heartsease Lane, Plumstead Road and St Williams Way - will remain open for the bulk of the work, drivers are facing 32 weeks of major disruption.
READ MORE: Norwich Heartsease roundabout revamp to go ahead despite row
The roundabout will be controlled with three-way traffic lights, while Harvey Lane, Plumstead Road East and Margetson Avenue will be fully closed throughout the work, meaning diversions for traffic, including buses.
The changes to the Heartsease roundabout include one-lane entry and exit, along with new pedestrian and cycle crossings.
Norfolk County Council officers said the changes will improve safety.
They say between July 2011 and November 2022 there were 33 recorded accidents at the roundabout, 15 in which cyclists were hurt and eight where pedestrians were injured.
But the mooted revamp had come in for criticism from the public and Norwich Cycling Campaign over shared cycleways and footpaths.
READ MORE: Norwich's Queens Road set for major traffic changes
However, Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "Changes to this major junction on the city's network are vital to improve its currently poor safety record and connect it properly to the surrounding area for those travelling on foot, by bike or using pushchairs and wheelchairs.
"There is a significant amount of construction work needed to deliver this project and I understand that it's a long period of disruption for people who use the roundabout regularly. I'd like to thank everyone for their patience while work takes place.
"It's important we use the opportunity we have through central government's Transforming Cities Fund to address people's concerns over the existing facilities and make it a much safer place for everyone."
DETAILS OF THE WORK
Phase 1 (September 11 to November 10): North-east quadrant of roundabout, between Heartsease Lane and Plumstead Road East
Removal of central island, streetlighting, Anglian Water diversion, kerbing, drainage, footway, new wall and accommodation work
Phase 2 (November 10 to December 22): East quadrant of roundabout between Plumstead Road East and St Williams Way
Removal of island, footway and drainage
Christmas Break: December 23 to January 3
Phase 3 (January 4 to February 7): South-east quadrant of roundabout between St Williams Way and Harvey Lane
Removal of lamp column, small sections of carriageway widening, metal fencing, footway and drainage
Phase 4 (February 7 to February 27): South-west Quadrant of Roundabout between Harvey Lane and Plumstead Road
Removal of lamp column, small sections of carriageway widening, installation of signs, footway and drainage
Phase 5 (February 27 to March 11): North-west quadrant of roundabout between Plumstead Road East and Heartsease Lane
Removal of bollards, installation of signs, footway and drainage
Phase 6 (March 12 to March 25): Roundabout and central island
Kerbing, ducting, carriageway widening, installation of signs, concrete ring and drainage
Phase 7 (from March 26): Full closure of the roundabout for four weeks for carriageway surfacing and road markings.
The council says that is timed to coincide with school Easter holidays to "minimise impact".
DIVERSIONS
Three arms of roundabout (Heartsease Lane, Plumstead Road and St Williams Way) will remain open for most of the work and operate under three-way lights.
Harvey Lane, Plumstead Road East and Margetson Avenue will be fully closed for duration of the work.
The diversion route for Harvey Lane will be Yarmouth Road – Thunder Lane – St Williams Way.
The diversion route for Plumstead Road East will be Woodside Road – Salhouse Road – Heartsease Lane
The diversion route for Margetson Avenue will be Gordon Avenue – Pilling Road – St Williams Way
Currently, there is 'left turn only' for traffic exiting Aldi car park. Due to the Harvey Lane closure, traffic will be allowed to turn right.
And the 'no right turn' for the traffic entering Aldi car park from Plumstead Road West will be lifted.
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