Our Priorities

Our current ask of government includes:

The ultimate ambition of the A47 Alliance is a fully dualled A47 from Lowestoft to the A1 at Peterborough. We recognise this needs to be delivered incrementally therefore we have identified three priority dualling schemes for the next Roads Investment Strategy (RIS3) from 2025-2030. These are as follows

Acle Straight dualling

(Norfolk)

Photo credit: Zak Nelson/First Bus
Tilney to East Winch dualling

(Norfolk)
Peterborough to the Walton Highway dualling

(Cambridgeshire)

Photo credit: National Highways

We have 3 top dualling priorities

Schematic map of the A47 Alliance’s priorities along the A47

A47 Alliance priority dualling scheme
Funded RIS1 dualling scheme
Existing dualled road
Existing single carriage way

Acle Straight dualling: Would involve dualling the A47 between Acle Roundabout, Acle, to Vauxhall Roundabout, Great Yarmouth.
Tilney to East Winch dualling: Would involve dualling the A47 from Shoreboat Roundabout, east of Tilney High End, to Pullover Roundabout, west of King’s Lynn, and from Constitution Hill Roundabout, east of King’s Lynn, to East Winch
Peterborough to Wisbech dualling: Would involve dualling the A47 from the A16/A47 Roundabout, north of Peterborough, to Thorney Bypass and from New Cut Roundabout (B1167/A47), east of Thorney, to the A47/Lynn Road Roundabout, south of Walton Highway.

A47 dualling Acle Straight

The dualling of the Acle Straight has been an ambition in the east for a long time.

This route is a key link for Great Yarmouth to Norwich, the midlands and north. Dualling this stretch of the A47 has a high benefit to cost ratio and will bring about a multitude of benefits such as journey time savings and improved safety. Dualling will also help support the growing population in Great Yarmouth and Waveney boroughs which is expected to be a growth of 18,000 people between 2011 and 2031.

Dualling will also support many jobs and investment in the east, with the Great Yarmouth coastline being home to various, nationally significant wind energy sites which help power the nation.

A47 Dualling Tilney to East Winch

Dualling of the A47 between Tilney and East Winch is highly important for both safety and growth in the area. Dualling would prevent up to 31 fatal and 205 serious casualties over the life of the scheme, reiterating just how much of a difference dualling can make and how important it is. The single carriageway area between Tilney and East Winch is also allocated a large amount of growth. The borough as a whole is planned to deliver 16,500 new homes between 2001 and 2026. Some of this growth is located close to this stretch of the A47 such as West Winch which is allocated 1,600 dwellings.

Dualling will increase the capacity of the route which will help the network cope with growth. Employment growth in the area could exacerbate issues being experienced on the A47 between Tilney and East Winch. From 2020, the new Nar Ouse Business Park will create 2,000+ jobs which is located north of the A47. This part of the A47 also plays an important role with regards to trade. The King’s Lynn Port imports one million tonnes of goods per year. Dualling this section of the A47 will help in improving access and journey times to and from the port.

A47 dualling Peterborough to Walton Highway

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has developed the Strategic Outline Business Case and Options Assessment Report for dualling the A47 between the A16 Peterborough and the Walton Highway, West Norfolk. The A47 is classed as a Strategic Road providing a crucial East – West link between A1 and the east coast ports, connecting many communities along the corridor. Despite the importance of the A47, it is of inconsistent standard, comprising a mixture of dual, old, and modern single carriageway design. The route offers slow, inconsistent journey times, and reaching capacity in parts.

In contrast to Greater Cambridge, Fenland is an area of economic deprivation with few transport links. Upgrading the existing single carriageway sections to dual between Peterborough and the Walton Highway would enable vital connectivity to the north of the Combined Authority area. Enhancing the route and stimulating economic growth in the north of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Region. Notably in housing, education, employment, and the agri-tech economy.

It will also complement other transport and infrastructure priorities such as Wisbech Rail and the development of a new Garden Town at Wisbech.

Sustainability

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Sustainability is an important part of the A47 Alliance's asks of government. We want to ensure that any dualling or improvements that are delivered on the A47 support people, the economy and the environment. We want to see:

- Safe walking and cycling routes and crossings of the A47

- Better conditions for public transport on the A47 and improved connections to bus stations and train stations

- Reduced severance of local communities by the A47

- Mitigation of noise pollution, air pollution and carbon emissions

- EV charge points along the A47 route

- Delivery of biodiversity net gain, ensuring solutions are tailored to the local environment

The A47 Alliance recognise the importance of considering our impact on the environment to mitigate climate change and support biodiversity. We are commissioning work to look into the carbon impacts of full A47 dualling to ensure we remain cognisant of the impacts of our asks and can seek to appropriately mitigate these.