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Elveden Estate works start early to support delivery of A11 dualling scheme in Norfolk

Government Communications (NDS)

12 October 2011

Work to upgrade the track network used for farming operations on the Elveden Estate has been accelerated to ensure main construction work to widen the remaining single carriageway section of the A11 between Norwich and the M11 starts on schedule in 2012-13. Bringing this advance work forward will ensure disruption for the Elveden Estate is at an absolute minimum. The track improvements are needed to cater for the increase in journeys by heavy farming vehicles once the estate's access to and from the A11 is changed as part of the main construction work.Roads Minister Mike Penning said:"The Government is committed to delivering transport projects which improve journeys and help economic growth so I am pleased to announce that advance works are being brought forward to ensure that this vital scheme proceeds to construction in 2012/13."Starting these advanced works now makes absolute sense as it will ensure they are completed in plenty of time to allow the widening scheme to start on schedule. If they had been left until next winter, this would have left the Highways Agency with no fallback position should the work been affected by severe weather."When complete, a nine mile stretch of the busy A11 between Fiveways roundabout and Thetford will be widened - completing the missing link of dual carriageway between Norwich and M11. Road users will benefit from reduced congestion, faster, more reliable journeys and improved safety on the route which is a major link between the East of England and London. Our analysis shows that every pound invested in this scheme will deliver more than £17 of benefits to the economy - an extremely high rate of return." Highways Agency project manager, Rob Gibson, said: "The work will be carried out between this month and March 2012. People who use the A11 may see the work being undertaken, particularly near the war memorial to the west of the village of Elveden. However, there will be no impact on drivers using the A11 or on people visiting the Elveden Estate."As the largest landowner affected by the scheme it is crucial we work closely with the estate to ensure the impact on its farming operations is limited."The scheme to upgrade the A11 to dual-carriageway standard between Fiveways Roundabout at Barton Mills near Mildenhall and the southern roundabout of Thetford bypass will comprise 5.5 miles of widening as well as a 3.6 mile bypass of the village of Elveden. Before main construction work gets underway in 2012-13, advanced environmental works will be carried out - dates will be confirmed nearer the time. Work on the scheme is expected to be completed in 2014-15.Currently, Norwich is the largest city in the UK not linked to the rest of the country by dual carriageway. As well as completing the dualling of the A11 between the M11 and Norwich, a bypass will be provided for the village of Elveden.The Highways Agency is making progress against its commitment to reduce the cost of major capital projects by 20 per cent across the roads programme, which includes this A11 Fiveways to Thetford dualling scheme. Notes to EditorsIssued on behalf of the Highways Agency by COI East. For further information please call Jenny Thompson, John Evans or Karen Dowle on 01223 370784 / 83 / 86.Out of hours, please call the Highways Agency 24-7 national press office number on 0207 081 7443.1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State. 2. The Roads Minister Mike Penning confirmed funding on 22 March 2011 for the improvements to a nine-mile stretch of the A11 between Barton Mills in Suffolk and Thetford in Norfolk - see the DfT press notice: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=202&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=418741&SubjectId=36).On 20 November 2009, the Highways Agency awarded the contract to design and construct the A11 dualling and improvement scheme between Fiveways and Thetford to Birse Civils Ltd.The Elveden Estate tracks work will be delivered from within the scheme budget, which has cost-range estimate of £113m (minimum) to £149m (maximum).4. Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is available:- From the web at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device. Before using any mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.- By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT residential landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).5. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 at any time. Calls from landlines to 0300 and 08700 numbers can cost up to 8p per minute but are free from some landline providers: calls from mobiles usually cost more. Please check costs with your service provider.Receive our national and regional press releases by RSS and get the latest headlines straight to your desktop the moment we publish them to our website. Choose to receive a national press feed or one of our regionalised feeds - go to www.highways.gov.uk/rssnews for more informationIssued on behalf of the Highways Agency by COI East. For further information please call Jenny Thompson, John Evans or Karen Dowle on 01223 370784 / 83 / 86.Out of hours, please call the Highways Agency 24-7 national press office number on 0207 081 7443.