Work is underway on a £1.5m roundabout on the A1066 at Thetford, which is set to open up land for the proposed Thetford Enterprise Park to create much needed jobs in the town.
The upgrade, at the junction of Wyatt Way, is part of a £2.4m investment from New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership’s Growth deal with Government for transport improvements in Thetford, including the design and build of the Thetford Enterprise Park roundabout, bringing employment growth to accompany the planned 5000 new homes on the edge of the town. Further funding has been provided by Breckland Council, while Norfolk County Council is delivering the scheme.
Cllr Martin Wilby, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Environment, Development and Transport Committee, said: “We want to see much needed jobs coming to the vibrant and growing town of Thetford so we’re proud to be delivering this scheme, which is a strong investment in the future, as it’s set to unlock land for the Thetford Enterprise Park and boost local employment opportunities.”
Doug Field, Chair of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This investment will benefit Thetford’s local economy, create 1,700 new jobs at the Enterprise Park and better connect towns between Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.”
Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Breckland Council’s Executive Member for Corporate Strategy and Investment, said: “I’m delighted work is now underway to deliver this important infrastructure upgrade in Thetford. The Thetford Enterprise Park is a key employment site at the heart of the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor and this new access roundabout will make it more attractive for big businesses to move into the area. When the 44 acre site is fully occupied in the future it will create thousands of new jobs, which is great news for local people.”
To make sure traffic along the busy A1066 and A11 is kept flowing while the roundabout is built the only road closure will be on Wyatt Way. All traffic will be directed to use Fison Way to access the industrial estate on a temporary basis, until work is complete. Norfolk County Council is aware that since work started last week people have been facing queues that are longer than usual when leaving the industrial estate at the end of the day. To help to ease this problem left turn and right turn only lanes will be painted on Fison Way overnight on 20 September (weather permitting). The situation will continue to be monitored and other options to help improve traffic flow from the industrial estate will be looked into.
Signs will be in place to remind people that businesses remain open as usual.
