A MAJOR £1m road project which will see roads around Haven Bridge reinforced will start in just over a week's time. Sections of South Quay, Hall Quay, North Quay and Haven Bridge will undergo a major revamp as part of a scheme to reinforce the roads in anticipation of the extra traffic the outer harbour is expected to generate.

A MAJOR £1m road project which will see roads around Haven Bridge reinforced will start in just over a week's time.

Sections of South Quay, Hall Quay, North Quay and Haven Bridge will undergo a major revamp as part of a scheme to reinforce the roads in anticipation of the extra traffic the outer harbour is expected to generate.

While limited traffic flows will be maintained at all times during the phased work - which starts on Saturday, October 4 - project engineers expect big delays.

Rod Kelly, from Norfolk County Council's planning and transport department, said Yarmouth would be open for business as usual and it did not want people to stay away from the town.

The majority of signs on the A12, A143 and A47 approaches to Yarmouth warning motorists of the works and delays were in place by the end of last week.

Mr Kelly, project engineer, said: “The idea from the very start has not been for people to stay away but rather to stress there will be delays.”

During each phase of the work, one lane on Haven Bridge will be open to traffic - although this will be limited to either westbound or eastbound traffic.

For example, phase two of the project will see repairs carried out on part of North Quay and Hall Quay up to the town hall. During this period, traffic will be unable to travel over Haven Bridge and into Yarmouth, although northbound traffic from Hall Quay will be able to turn left over Haven Bridge and on to Pasteur Road. Traffic from Regent Street will not be able to use Hall Quay and will instead be diverted along Howard Street South.

One-way orders will be reversed during the works, meaning traffic will be able to turn right from King Street car park on to Howard Street South and will be able to travel along the road and exit via The Conge. The existing exit from Greyfriars Road will be maintained.

The county council had looked at setting up temporary car parks on the Southtown side of the river - allowing drivers to park up and walk across the bridge. However, Mr Kelly said the council had been unable to find any suitable derelict land close enough to the bridge.

He said land that appeared to be derelict on Southtown Road was in fact being used for storage by companies. He added: “There is a site on Pasteur Road for lease near the mini-roundabout but we considered it to be too far out of town. Are people going to park there, walk to the bridge and then on to their destination given the time of year?”

Haven Bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists at all times during the works, the bulk of which is expected to finish in mid November.

Minor works to widen lanes at Hall Quay have already started and work to reinforce part of Southgates Road will begin on November 8 and be carried out over three weekends. Work to lanes around the town hall will be carried out in January because of the reroofing work at the building.