Bus passengers face weeks of disruption as another set of major roadworks are due to begin.

The latest scheme focuses on the A47 through Gorleston over the next four months.

Highways England is upgrading the former A12 in conjunction with Norfolk County Council to improve the road surface and safety features along a nearly two and a half mile stretch between Gorleston and Hopton.

Bus route changes

The number 8 and 9 First Bus services will be diverted throughout the works, with alternative timetables available from the bus company.

Due to roadworks at the Brasenose Avenue and James Paget Hospital junctions on Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, we are having to make some temporary changes to the route and timetable of service 9 from Monday 8th January.

On journeys from Great Yarmouth to the Hospital buses will run via part of Lowestoft Road to reach Bridge Road and then carry on as normal until they get to Mariners Compass. From here buses will continue on right round the Compass, and turn right back onto Links Road, then onto Lowestoft Road to get to the James Paget Hospital.

From the Hospital, the bus will turn left onto Lowestoft Road and then left into Brasenose Avenue. Passengers from Cliff Park will be able to board the bus on its outward journey from Great Yarmouth and will stay on the vehicle while it waits at the James Paget Hospital. Unfortunately this does mean different times and longer journeys for passengers from the Cliff Park area to Gorleston and Great Yarmouth.

Evening and Sunday journeys on Service 8 towards the James Paget Hospital which serve Cliff Park will follow the same diversion route as Service 9 during the day, but please note that all journeys from the Hospital will operate direct via Lowestoft Road to Brasenose Avenue, so again passengers from Cliff Park will have to board the bus on the way to the Hospital.

The will be a temporary timetable for service 9 which will be posted on our website. Other buses which serve the Hospital – services 1/1A, 8, X1 and X11 – will also be subject to delays and minor diversions because of the works, but will still serve all stops as normal.

A spokesman for First Bus said: “We have worked with Highways England to reduce the impact of the roadworks on our services as far as possible, but there will be some delays and we apologise for the disruption to your journey.”

A spokesman from the James Paget Hospital said they have been advising our staff for several weeks about the works and there are alternative staff entrances on either side of the hospital to access the site.

The East of England Ambulance Service said contingency are in place for accessing the hospital and leaving the ambulance station in Beacon Park.

Improvement works

• Improving the traffic lights at the Lowestoft Road and Bridge Road and Lowestoft Road and Kennedy Avenue junctions;

• Upgrading the Lowestoft Road and Kennedy Avenue pedestrian crossing so that it is suitable for cyclists too;

• Resurfacing Lowestoft Road between the Victoria Road roundabout and Beaufort Way, while also installing traffic lights on the Beaufort Way/Links Road roundabout, and;

• Replacing signs and installing a new central reservation safety barrier on the A47 between Gorleston and Hopton.

Drivers in Yarmouth are still contending with disruption on the Fullers Hill roundabout and North Quay, with new work installing a right-hand lane at ASDA and The Conge set to begin soon.

Drivers’ reactions

Motorists who use the affected road have taken to social media to share their views on the roadworks.

Lyn Waterfield said: “Wouldn’t it be a wonderful idea to think that the sensible comments written on here by people that actually live here and know the problems could possibly be read and acted upon by the highways department?”

Peter White added: “What a waste of our money putting lights on a roundabout that has had no problems on it. Sort the Gapton Retail Park entrance out that would be more good.

Dawn Vriesema agreed: “Why put traffic lights on a roundabout and making it a junction, this will cause more problems hampering the ambulance station, and just be a headache to locals, the money would be better spent on fixing the roads in and around Yarmouth area.”

Shawn Franklin said: “ Do the highways want the people of Yarmouth to get about? It is going to be a nightmare to go anywhere.”