New water main will mean Dereham Road closures

Anglian Water plans to install a new water main for Reepham, which will involve the closure of Dereham Road (B1145). The work is scheduled to start later this year and extend into 2015.
 

Dereham Road, Reepham, looking west toward the Old Cart House (formerly Blossom Barn)

 
The company says this will help boost water supplies for Reepham, making the town less dependent on its Salle works, through the investment in a 5 km pipeline from Fakenham Road, Sparham, across country (crossing the Marriott’s Way) to the town centre.
 
As part of the works the plan involves closing Dereham Road in three stages. One stage will be between School Road/Townsend Corner and Smugglers Lane, a second stage will be between Smugglers Lane and Park Lane, and the third will be between Park Lane and the Old Cart House (formerly Blossom Barn), some 100 metres west of Park Lane.
 
According to pipeline engineer Chris Bretton, Anglian Water is currently in discussions with Norfolk County Council Highways regarding timings and diversion routes, but confirmed that the official diversion will be a long one, “as we cannot divert onto smaller roads. B-road traffic must be officially diverted onto a minimum of B-classified roads.”
 
There is no announcement of the timings yet, but Mr Bretton said Anglian Water will try to avoid road closures in December “for obvious reasons”.
 
The company said it will publicise the scheme nearer the time and will be making contact with local businesses and informing residents immediately affected by the works of the timings and “what they can expect”.
 
The plans note that Dereham road is “traffic sensitive” Monday to Friday, from 7.30 – 9 am and from 4 – 7 pm.
 

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