Transport Minister Baroness Vere made a special visit to Great Yarmouth to see the fantastic progress being made on the town’s Third River Crossing which is on course to open one year from now.
Having seen the Lowestoft Gull Wing project earlier during the visit on Friday 25 March, the minister was joined at Great Yarmouth by a delegation of senior leaders from Norfolk to view the construction first-hand and learn about the massive economic boost the project will bring to the wider region.
The minister was shown how the new Great Yarmouth crossing will link the enterprise zone at the port to the A47, reduce congestion across the town, improve journey times and connect previously cut off local communities with new walking and cycling routes.
Since construction on Norfolk County Council’s key infrastructure project began, lead contractor BAM Farrans Joint Venture estimate over £8 million has already been spent directly within the local economy and over 50 full time positions have been provided to local people.
New Anglia LEP invested £2m from its Growth Deal from Government in the Great Yarmouth crossing, which enabled detailed design and secured the necessary statutory processes for its construction. A further £2m from its Growth Deal was provided for the feasibility study on the options of a third crossing at Lake Lothing in Lowestoft that resulted in the announcement of £70m in Government funding for the scheme. Both Chief Executive Chris Starkie and Chair C-J Green both attended the Minister’s visit.
Cllr Graham Plant, deputy leader of both Norfolk County Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Norfolk’s cabinet member for economic growth said: “I am delighted we have had the opportunity to show the minister the fantastic progress being made on this highly significant project for our region, that means so much to the people of Great Yarmouth.
Roads minister Baroness Vere said: “The benefits already being felt will continue to grow our local economy for generations to come and the opportunity to directly highlight to government the need for good local infrastructure across Norfolk is most welcome”.
“It was fantastic to visit Great Yarmouth’s Third River Crossing to see work progressing on this important project. Our £98.09 million funding will provide a significant boost to Norfolk’s local economy, and this new link will be indispensable to the local community when it is completed – improving journey times and reliability and maximising investment to the area.”
Whilst on site the minister was introduced to some of the young people who have directly benefited from the project, such as Reece Ryan, who has successfully gained full time employment after completing the government’s Kickstart programme.
Reece said: “Kick Start has been an excellent scheme to support me getting back to work on such an exciting project in my hometown of Great Yarmouth. I have now completed the six-month Kick Start process and this week started a full-time position with BAM Farrans Joint Venture. I am very grateful to all involved and look forward to developing my career in the construction industry.”
The Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing which will link the A47 at Harfrey’s roundabout to the port and the enterprise zone on the other side of the river is expected to open in Spring 2023.
You can find out more about the project at www.norfolk.gov.uk/3rc
