A11 concrete surface repairs and maintenance

We'll be carrying out the reconstruction to sections of the carriageway, as well as repairs and maintenance on other stretches of the road surface on the A11 carriageway between Spooner Row and the Thickthorn Junction in both directions, during 2021 and 2022. The work will be undertaken in two phases, with Phase 1 (A11 Tuttles Interchange to Thickthorn) starting on 24 October 2021, and Phase 2 (A11 Spooner Row to Tuttles Interchange) starting in early 2022.

Start date 24 October 2021

End date Winter 2022

Cost TBC

The East region has the highest concentration of concrete roads on our road network, including the A14, A12, A120 and M11.

Around half of the old-style concrete roads will either have repairs or will be replaced during next five years.

We’ll be using innovative techniques and new technology to provide a modern road that will last for decades to come, and which is easier and quicker for us to repair in future.

Why we need this scheme

The surface of concrete roads that were designed between the 1950s and 1970s have an average life span of 50 years. Their surfaces are now reaching the stage where they will need to be repaired or replaced for safety reasons, and to help them be less noisy and better to drive on.

Benefits

Our road replacements will provide safer and better road surfaces, improving safety and driving conditions for motorists on the A11. Replacing the old surfaces with a new, modern road surface will extend the life of the road by up to 40 years and will be easier and quicker for us to repair in future.

Project information

The work will be undertaken in two phases, with Phase 1 (A11 Tuttles Interchange to Thickthorn) starting on 24 October 2021, and Phase 2 (A11 Spooner Row to Tuttles Interchange) starting in early 2022.

Benefits

Phase 1 – A11 Tuttles Junction to Thickthorn repairs

Our road repairs will help improve the safety of the road surface. It is essential that we complete repairs to the potholes and cracking to ensure a smoother and safer ride on the A11. Once complete, we expect the life of the road surface to be extended by up to 10 more years. And the road will also require less maintenance, resulting in fewer roadworks along this section of the A11.

Phase 2 – A11 Spooner Row to Tuttles Junction road reconstruction

Phase 2 will help improve the safety of the road surface, but it will also provide a smoother and quieter journey for road users.  Rather than repairing the potholes and cracking, the whole carriageway will be reconstructed and re-laid to ensure a smoother and safer ride. Once complete, we expect the life of the road surface to be extended by up to 50 more years, with fewer future closures for maintenance repairs, meaning more reliable journeys for road users.

Project information

Phase 1 – A11, Tuttles to Thickthorn Junctions Concrete Life Extension Works

We are replacing concrete bays and repairing potholes and cracks in the concrete road surface on the A11 main carriageway/slip roads between the Tuttles Interchange and the Thickthorn Interchange northbound/southbound/in both directions.

Road closures between Tuttles to Thickthorn

To do this work, we will need to close the A11 between Tuttles to Thickthorn every evening from 8pm on Sundays through to 6am on Fridays from 24 October through to winter. We may also need some weekend road closures to work on larger areas needing road repairs. Dates will be confirmed closer to the start of our work.

When the road is closed, a signed diversion route will be in place that will take traffic along the B1172, and we will also encourage larger vehicles to use the A1066 and A140.

When complete, Phase 1 will improve the safety along this section of the road. We do not intend to reconstruct all of the A11 road yet, as the foundations of this section of the A11 are currently sound.

Upcoming road closures

Phase 1 work will start on the 24 October 2021. The work will involve repairing some of the A11 concrete road segments. Where the cracks in the concrete are less severe, repairs will be made to potholes. In addition to this work, new drainage, road markings and reflective road studs (cat’s eyes) will be installed.

Phase 1 of the scheme will repair the carriageway between the Tuttles Interchange and the Thickthorn Interchange. Our work will be carried out overnight between 8pm and 6am, and the A11 will only be closed in one direction at a time. We appreciate that some of the excavation work may be noisy and will do our best to minimise any disturbances.

Date	Location
24 October to 9 December	A11 southbound closure between 8pm and 6am
9 December to 23 December	A11 Northbound closure between 8pm and 6am
23 December	6am A11 reopens with no closures over the Christmas period
4 January to 13 February	A11 Northbound closure between 8pm and 6am

Some weekend closures may be required to help with the curing of materials, and we’ll ensure you are notified of these in advance of the work.

In phase 2 of the scheme, we will be reconstructing the carriageway between Spooner Row and the Tuttles Interchange. This work is due to start in spring 2022.

Diversion route

The A11 closures will always be supported by a signed diversion route that will take traffic along the B1172, and we will also encourage larger vehicles to use a dispersal route along the A1066 and A140. Please follow the route shown in the map below during the overnight road closures.

Diversion for drivers heading north:

For northbound traffic leaving the A11 at the Tuttles interchange, a diversion route will be in place via the B1135 onto the B1172 Norwich Road, continuing along Norwich Common, Ketts Oak and Norwich Road and rejoint the A11 at the Thickthorn interchange.

Diversion for drivers heading south:

For southbound traffic leaving the A11 at the Thickthorn interchange, a diversion route will be in place via the B1172 Norwich Road, continuing along Ketts Oak, Norwich Common, and Norwich Road onto the B1135 and rejoint the A11 at the Tuttles interchange.

Phase 2 – A11 Spooner Row to Tuttles Junction Concrete Reconstruction Scheme

We will be reconstructing the A11 between Spooner Row and Tuttles interchange. We started preparation work in autumn 2021, ahead of the main construction starting in early 2022.

This involves completely removing the existing road surface and some of the foundations, before then rebuilding the road with recycled material and an asphalt road surface. We'll also be installing new drains, replacing safety barriers, repainting road markings, and inserting new reflective road studs (cat’s eyes).

Towards the end of this year and during 2022, we will be repairing and reconstructing the A11 carriageway between Spooner Row and the Thickthorn Interchange to replace the concrete road with a flexible asphalt lower-noise road surface.

As preparation for this work, in May 2021 we carried out ground investigation, carriageway, pavement and drainage surveys for two weeks on the A11 between Spooner Row and Thickthorn Interchange. To minimise the impact on local communities and motorists, the survey work was done overnight between 8pm and 6am. We will only divert traffic from the A11 onto local roads where absolutely necessary.

A11 northbound exit diversion

To continue along the A11 northbound, exit at Spooner Row and take the diversion via B1172 through Wymondham, B1135, B1172 through Hethersett and re-join the A11 at Thickthorn Interchange. We expect this diversion to add approximately 10 to 15 minutes to the usual journey.

A11 southbound entry diversion

To join the A11 southbound from Spooner Row take the diversion via B1172, Station Road, Ayton Road, Bromwick Road and join the A11 southbound at the Wymondham Bypass junction. We expect this diversion to add approximately 15 to 20 minutes to the usual journey.

A11 southbound large diversion

To continue along the A11 southbound, exit at Thickthorn Interchange and take the diversion via B1172 through Hethersett, B1135, B1172 through Wymondham and re-join the A11 at Spooner Row. We expect this diversion to add approximately 10 to 15 minutes to the usual journey.

A11 northbound large diversion

To exit the A11 northbound, continue along the A11 northbound, exit onto the B1172, follow through Hethersett and then take the B1135 into Wymondham. We expect this diversion to add approximately 15 to 20 minutes to the usual journey.