Safe Speed Forums

A11/A47 THICKTHORN INTERCHANGE

Thank you for your email sent to Roads Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman on 19 January 2006 in relation to A11/A47 Thickthorn Interchange. I have been asked to provide a response as Project Manager for this scheme.

The temporary speed limit to which you refer in your email is being used as part of the A11/A47 Thickthorn Interchange improvement works. This scheme is on the Highways Agency’s network, but is being carried out by Norfolk County Council to compensate for additional traffic flows from the nearby existing and proposed developments being promoted by the County Council.

Norfolk County Council are supported by Norfolk Police in the management and operation of the temporary 30 mph speed restriction on the A11. The distance covered by the temporary speed limit on the A11 was longer than is usually provided for several reasons. The length of the temporary lane closures on the A11 approaching Thickthorn Roundabout, varied from day to day to allow the delivery and removal of materials and plant from the site.

During the periods when traffic was restricted to one lane, a rapid build up of vehicles proved likely to occur with queues stretching back up to a mile from the roundabout. This could often be at off-peak times when drivers would not expect long queues.

The Highways Agency accepted Norfolk County Council’s proposal not to move the 30 mph temporary speed limit closer to the works for the safety of road users and road workers. They jointly felt that varying the start of the speed limit could cause confusion for motorists who regularly use the A11 and pose additional risks for road workers by physically changing the distance covered by the speed limit. For these safety reasons the 30 mph speed restriction was maintained for 24 hours per day.

Over the Christmas and New Year holiday period the speed limit was kept in place because there were unfinished roadworks.

To respond to your comments on the use of a safety camera van near Attleborough, the Norfolk Safety Camera Partnership operated this safety camera and have confirmed they were operating on the A11 southbound at Besthorpe, which fits with your description.

There are numerous safety camera sites currently operating on the A11 trunk road, all approved by the Department for Transport and in operation since 2002.

In the last 4 years there has been a significant decrease in casualties on the A11 trunk road to such a level that it is now listed as amongst the most improved roads in safety terms in the whole country.

Because of this improvement in road safety on the A11, Norfolk Safety Camera Partnership has adjusted its enforcement strategy accordingly. Three sites have been removed from the list of A11 sites and some of the other A11 sites have had their level of enforcement priority lowered. Should casualties continue to fall further, the Norfolk Safety Camera Partnership will respond by reviewing its enforcement strategy accordingly.

Safety remains a high priority for the Highways Agency and I hope you will feel that the actions you observed being taken on the A11 were fully justified in supporting casualty reduction on our roads.

If you would like any further information about this matter, please contact me at the address above, by telephone on 01234 796138, or you can e-mail me at julian.o’dell@highways.gsi.gov.uk.

I hope this is helpful.

Yours sincerely, Julian O'Dell

TO East & EM Area 6
Email: julian.o'dell@highways.gsi.gov.uk

Yours Disgustingly

Sometimes speed limits will be of benefit, but they are no panacea. Getting hit at 40mph is mostly fatal. Getting hit at 70mph is also mostly fatal. The only 'trick' is to avoid getting hit.

correct, but a car travelling at 40 has a far greater chance of both assessing a risk and reacting to it in good time, i forget the figures but you can probably stop from 40 in the "thinking distance" you'd need at 70.

I would like to let you know the out come of my case.
3 points and a £40 fine with £35 costs.