Department for Transport Investment Fund

On 4 June 2017 DfT issued NPIF (National Productivity Investment Fund) guidance for local highway authorities to submit up to two bids for the financial years (2018/19 and 2019/20) by 30 June 2017. Most bids are expected to fall within the £2m-5m range and should:

"increase and rebalance productivity, by relieving congestion and delivering upgrades to local roads and public transport networks. Must promote or facilitate one or more of the following aims:

1. Ease congestion and provide upgrades on important national, regional or local routes
2. Unlock economic and job creation opportunities; or
3. Enable the delivery of new housing developments"

In October 2017 the DfT confirmed that the funding bid had been successful.

A140/C497/B1527 Hempnall Crossroads

We need to improve the junction to allow future growth and proposed developments and to address safety concerns.

There are plans for 1,800 houses at Long Stratton and about 9.5ha of employment land. The A140 already carries high flows of traffic at high speeds. There are long delays for traffic exiting side roads at the priority junction at Hempnall and there have been eight accidents in the last 5 years. By 2026 the junction will have reached capacity, making existing problems worse and affecting growth.

We plan to upgrade an existing four arm priority staggered junction on the A140 Norwich to Ipswich road to a four arm roundabout.