How to plan around the A11 Thickthorn closures

Drivers are likely to face disruption during a weekend of road closure while engineers connect up and install a new bridge.

The modular bridge is part of a redesign of the A11/A47 Thickthorn junction, near Norwich, with the A11 shut in both directions between the junction and Wymondham from 20:00 BST on Friday.

Diversion routes will be in place for the duration until 06:00 BST on Monday. The route is shutting to allow for the installation over the road as part of the £200m improvement scheme.

Here is everything you need to know to help plan your journey this weekend.

The section of the A11 is closing for safety reasons so the new bridge can be built across it.

It has been built in different pieces and is now being connected together, in a construction method described as "trailblazing" by senior National Highways officials.

Much of it has been constructed in sections elsewhere before being transported to the site.

This includes six 100-tonne beams measuring 38 metres long, which were built in Ireland before being transferred across the Irish Sea to Liverpool's port, then across the country via road to Norfolk.

A specialist crane capable of lifting up to 750 tonnes is being used to move the beams into place on top of the abutments from Friday.

The Thickthorn junction project, which began around 18 months ago, aims to reduce congestion by removing around 12,000 vehicles from the roundabout each day.

The A11 will be fully closed in both directions between the Thickthorn Junction and Wymondham, from 20:00 BST on Friday, reopening at 06:00 BST on Monday.

All side roads on to the A11 will be closed in this stretch during the full weekend of work.

If you live on Cantley Lane South, access will be maintained and traffic marshals will escort you through.

But HGVs will also have to use a different diversion route due to weight restrictions on certain roads.

Signed diversion routes will be in place.

Here are the diversions in place over the weekend.

Northbound diversion route (for non-HGVs):

• Exit the A11 at the Thetford Bypass and head east towards Diss via the A1066
• Join the A140 and head north towards Norwich
• Exit the A140 and join the A47 at the Norwich Southern Bypass.

Southbound diversion route (for non-HGVs):

• Exit at A140 Ipswich Road and follow towards Diss
• Exit Needham Market and head west on the A1066 towards Thetford
• Re-join the A11 at Thetford.

More information on the road closure and details of separate diversion routes for HGVs can be found on the National Highways website.

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