Traffic Management Update

Works have started on the first phase of construction on the new B1135 Hethel Roundabout and link road to Potash Lane. Works are due to be completed by the end of the year 2026. There will be six planned construction phases which may have varying impacts on our neighbours and local businesses, set out below:

Phase one : 23 March to 13 July 2026

This will prominently have no adverse effect to using the B1135 or Potash Lane as all planned works are off-line. (There will only be deliveries of construction materials accessing Chapman Way via the B1135 during this period.)

Phase two : 26 June 2026 to 13 July 2026

Phase two comprises of kerbing and drainage modifications to the existing Potash Lane where the new link road will join the existing carriageway.

Temporary two way traffic lights will be required during the daytime to allow safe working room for both the construction team and public using Potash Lane.

A temporary link will be constructed to the south of the new junction to provide access onto the new link road for future phases

Phase three: 10 July to 13 July 2026

Phase three comprises of nighttime works at the tie in of the new link road and Potash Lane.

Potash Lane will be temporarily closed to traffic (except emergency vehicles) for a period of three nights (Friday to Sunday 1800-0800hrs) and reopened to traffic during the day

The closure is required to facilitate the removal of the existing carriageway asphalt and replace with new carriageway construction and to allow tie in with the new link road.

These works will be carried out during the night to mitigate inconvenience and disruption to our neighbours and local businesses.

Phase four: 20 July – 25 September 2026: Wymondham Road Closure

Phase four will require a full closure of the B1135 Wymondham Road between White Gable Farm and Potash Lane.

Why is a road closure is necessary?

The new roundabout is approximately 1 metre higher than the existing road level due to new drainage which passes below the carriageway. For this reason, together with the existing narrow width of Wymondham Road, it isn’t possible to construct the roundabout in two halves and safely allow traffic to pass through.

The project involves an extended ‘offline’ construction period, with works undertaken in and around the site without traffic management. This means the road closure duration has been reduced as much as possible to avoid unnecessary disruption to residents and businesses.

Connectivity will also be closed from Hethel Road onto Wymondham Road.

These closures enable the completion of the roundabout, excavation of the drainage ditches and utility diversions together with tie in works to adjoin the existing carriageway.

Access to Potash Lane and Hethel Innovation Centre will be via the east on the B1135. No access to Potash Lane will be available from the west along the B1135.

Diversion route for the B1135 Wymondham road closure will be via the B1113 Norwich Road – Ipswich Road – A47 Norwich Southern Bypass - A11 and vice versa

Diversion route for Hethel Road closure will be via Church Road onto the B1113 Norwich Road – Ipswich Road – A47 Norwich Southern Bypass – A11 and vice versa

We understand there were complications during the last closure of the B1135 for works associated with the scheme.

Norfolk County Council, Jackson Civil Engineering and our Traffic Management contractor have consulted on the issues which occurred, particularly along Bridge Road.

JCE/NCC have elected to close Bridge Road and man the junction to ensure that only deliveries and residents/businesses are able to travel along the B1135 or down Bridge Road.

We will assign a label to be placed on vehicles requiring access to Bridge Road or along the B1135 from the west. This has been incorporated to minimise impact on the village of Wreningham. We also recognise the potential impact of this closure on Ketteringham and East Carleton. For this reason, the junction between Wymondham road and Browick Road will also have a traffic marshall present to ensure diversionary traffic is not using this route.

Phase five: 25 September to 9 October 2026

Phase five will comprise of temporary two-way traffic lights at the Potash Lane junction with B1135 Wymondham Road and the new connection between the link road and Potash Lane north.

All traffic will use the new B1135 roundabout and Link Road for access to businesses and Potash Lane North.

This will allow the final elements of the closure of the southern section of Potash Lane to motorised traffic.

Phase six completion: 9 October to 27 November 2026

The final stage of construction works include completion of soft landscaping, tree planting and related activities, carried out off-line whilst the new roundabout and link road is in use.

We understand further disruption to the road network will be unwelcome news to local residents, businesses and members of the public. We have worked with Norfolk County Council’s Streetworks team to schedule our closure when other nearby roadworks are minimal. We have also consulted National Highways to understand their traffic management arrangements for this coming summer and requested that our closure does not coincide with any of their planned closures to the A11 and A47

Funding for this strategic initiative is provided by the Greater Norwich Growth Board, Norfolk County Council, and South Norfolk Council, with project oversight provided by Hainstone.

The Work on this major infrastructure project in South Norfolk is due to be completed by the end of 2026.