A 750-tonne crane is lifting six 38-metre beams into place for the UK’s first factory-built motorway bridge over the A11 at Norwich.
Each beam weighs 100 tonnes. This modular approach enables the bridge to be erected in days rather than months.
Factory-built beams speed installation
The A47/A11 Thickthorn junction improvement project uses this innovative design to reduce onsite construction time. The bridge connects Cantley Lane South with Norwich Road in Hethersett.
National Highways is delivering the scheme to improve safety, reduce congestion and support economic growth in Norfolk.
Modular design cuts disruption
Project director Alistair Stout said this is the first bridge on the strategic road network to use this modular method. Most of the bridge is manufactured offsite, which allows quicker assembly and less disruption to motorists.
He added it also lowers future maintenance demands.
Prior to the beam lifts, major earthworks and foundation strengthening were completed to support the new structure.
Minimising closures during installation
The A11 will face some short closures for the lifts. National Highways has worked to reduce these to a minimum to maintain safety and keep delays low.
The road will reopen as soon as possible once the weekend work is complete. Motorists are thanked for their patience.
Wider junction improvements
The Thickthorn project started around 18 months ago and includes two new large underpasses running beneath the A47 and A11 carriageways.
These underpasses form a free-flow link road that will remove 12,000 vehicles daily from the roundabout, cutting congestion.
The scheme will deliver faster, more reliable journeys, better access to Norwich Hospital and the Norwich Research Park, and increased capacity for future traffic growth.
The improvements also support nearby housing developments in Cringleford and Wymondham where around 3,000 new homes are planned.
Completion scheduled for spring 2028
The entire project at Thickthorn is due to finish by spring 2028.
Further details are available on the National Highways Thickthorn junction project web page.
