Improvements to notorious roundabout set to be considered next week

Heartsease Fiveways roundabout in Norwich is set for major improvements under a scheme that will be considered next week.

The roundabout has been blighted by a poor safety record with 33 recorded accidents between July 2011 and November 2022. This includes injuries to 15 cyclists and 8 pedestrians during that time.

Cllr Graham Plant, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport at Norfolk County Council said:

"Heartsease roundabout is unacceptably dangerous in its current configuration. Drivers find it difficult to find gaps in the traffic and those on foot or on a bike have real difficulty getting across safely.

"We need to make it safer and easier for everyone to get across this junction and this scheme finally offers some solutions."

The scheme would include a realignment of the roundabout to make it much easier to navigate. The junction would have one clear lane around the roundabout, with a single lane entry and exit on each arm. This will help reduce excessive speeding, while reducing driver confusion and hesitation.

The scheme would also see significant improvements to crossing facilities with zebra crossings for pedestrians and cyclists on all arms of the roundabout.

Cllr John Fisher, Local Member for Woodside said:

"Over the years I have received many requests from local residents for improvements to pedestrian crossing at this roundabout to provide safer access to the shops, so I welcome these proposals. They are long overdue."

Cllr Alison Birmingham, Local Member for Crome said:

"I'm in favour of anything that make this dangerous roundabout safer. I welcome the move towards creating further separation between those walking and cycling, which is something that has been raised a number of times by local residents."

The proposals were put to local residents in November last year as part of a public consultation, which received 499 responses.

The consultation survey showed that there was a split in opinion, with similar numbers of people saying they support the overall aims of the project (46%) as the number saying they didn't (47%).

The county council have put forward a number of changes to the original design based on the feedback they received. These include the proposal for a 20mph speed limit on the approach to the roundabout to discourage excessive speeds, and greater separation between those walking and cycling.

The proposals will be considered at the Transport for Norwich Advisory Committee on 31 May 2023. The scheme will then go to the cabinet member for a decision to proceed.

The scheme has a budget of £4,437,176 which represents High Value for Money in government appraisal terms. The funding will primarily come from the £32m Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) awarded to Norwich by The Department for Transport (DfT).

Find details of the upcoming Transport for Norwich Advisory committee on the county council website .