Motorists are being warned to expect delays for 13 weeks as a £1.5m project gets underway to build a roundabout in Thetford.

Thetford & Brandon Times: Works to build a new roundabout on the A1066 will last 13 weeks. Picture: Rebecca MurphyWorks to build a new roundabout on the A1066 will last 13 weeks. Picture: Rebecca Murphy (Image: Archant)

Work on the roundabout started last week on the A1066 at the junction of Wyatt Way, which will open-up land for the proposed Thetford Enterprise Park.

The junction work will provide access for the Thetford Enterprise Park site which will bring employment growth to accompany the planned 5,000 new homes being built on land off of Norwich Road in Croxton.

Councillor Sam Chapman-Allen, Breckland Council’s Executive Member for Corporate Strategy and Investment, said: “The Thetford Enterprise Park is a key employment site at the heart of the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor and this new access roundabout will make it more attractive for big businesses to move into the area.

“When the 44 acre site is fully occupied in the future it will create thousands of new jobs, which is great news.”

The work is funded by the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership which has allocated £2.4m from the Local Growth Fund for transport improvements in Thetford, including the design and build of the Thetford Enterprise Park roundabout.

Doug Field, Chair of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This investment will benefit Thetford’s local economy, create 1,700 new jobs at the enterprise park and better connect towns between Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.”

To make sure traffic along the A1066 and A11 is kept flowing while the roundabout is built Wyatt Way will be closed.

All traffic will be directed to use Fison Way to access the industrial estate until work is complete.

To help to ease traffic leaving the industrial estate left turn and right turn only lanes will be painted on Fison Way tonight, Thursday, September 20.

Councillor Martin Wilby, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Environment, Development and Transport Committee, said: “We want to see much needed jobs coming to the vibrant and growing town of Thetford so we’re proud to be delivering this scheme, which is a strong investment in the future, as it’s set to unlock land for the Thetford Enterprise Park and boost local employment opportunities.”

Businesses remain open as usual.