The Longwater junction lies to the west of the city, it’s where the A47 southern bypass crosses Dereham Road. It’s also the site of an out-of-town shopping centre with its feeder road William Frost Way and an industrial park. In recent years large housing estates have also been added.
Together, the A47 junction and William Frost Way present a formidable barrier to walking and cycling, there being no footpath, much less a cycle track, through this traffic dominated mess. It is one of the major missing links for active travel in Norwich.
The story of the development of a third-rate cycling and walking route through Longwater is told on our website feature “Crossing the Longwater Junction”
The whole scheme is being built to a low standard, with shared use paths throughout and badly designed, dangerous crossings of side roads. But the crossing of the A47 itself is far below the minimum we have the right to expect. At 2m wide it will be unsafe for cycling, with no protection from the heavy traffic running in narrow lanes on the over bridge.
The video explains the reasons Norwich Cycling Campaign is so strongly opposed to what Norfolk County Council intend to build.
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Correction: 6:18: HGVs can be up to 2.6 metres wide, not 2,8 metres as stated. This leaves a 20 cm gap between the kerb and the lorry.
5 Comments
I don't see why the developers of the new estate and business park can't pay for a new cycle and pedestrian bridge parallel to the existing junction. Even if it was jointly funded by NCC and the developers that'd be better than a half measure that goes against current DfT guidance.
DfT estimate of costs for a new cycle bridge in 2017 money was between £1m and £5m. Even if it cost the top end of that, that'd be a reasonable sum to split with the developers.
Thank you for your efforts in highlighting these issues and tireless advocacy for safe pedestrian and cycle infrastructure.
Is it possible the council can build a bridge in future?
Surely it would be safer and more practical for cyclists to be directed on to the road before the first roundabout heading east.
The only real solution is a separate overbridge for pedestrians/cyclists, as per the 2014 report’s recommendation.
And we had to walk along there to get to the Norfolk Showground from school!