PRESS RELEASE : Cabinet asked to agree council’s approach to appoint Norwich Western Link contractor [January 2020]

The press release issued by Norfolk County Council on 24 January 2020.

Norfolk County Council’s cabinet is being asked to approve the procurement approach that would lead to the appointment of a contractor for its Norwich Western Link project.

The Norwich Western Link, a new dual carriageway road between the western end of Broadland Northway and the A47, was made an infrastructure priority by the council in 2016 and a preferred route was agreed in July 2019. Together with the planned dualling of the A47 between North Tuddenham and Easton, the new road would create a fully dualled orbital route around Norwich, reducing the need for traffic to enter the city and alleviating local transport issues to the west of Norwich.

Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said: “We’ve had initial discussions with several potential bidders and are expecting a healthy level of interest in the contract for the Norwich Western Link.

“The procurement approach proposed requires the successful contractor to develop and take responsibility for the detailed design and construction of the project. This reduces the risk of changes needing to be made to the design at a later stage and gives more opportunity for bidders to suggest innovative ideas, helping to keep costs down and getting the best overall result for Norfolk.”

The council’s cabinet is also being asked to approve a proposal for a public consultation on specific elements of the Norwich Western Link in spring this year. Views will be sought on proposals for the local roads that cross the preferred route and the project’s developing sustainable transport strategy, which aims to enable an increase in walking, cycling and public transport use.

The feedback received will be used to inform the design of the project by the bidders during the procurement process. A further public consultation on the design developed with input from the successful contractor is scheduled at the end of 2020/early 2021, ahead of the planning application being submitted.

The report will be considered when cabinet meets at 10am on Monday 3 February.