Herring Bridge wins GB & ROI Construction Project of the Year at CEF Awards

Great Yarmouth’s Third River Crossing, Herring Bridge, which was delivered by BAM Farrans JV for Norfolk County Council, won GB &ROI Construction Project of the Year above £100m at the CEF awards last night.

The bridge is one of Norfolk’s most significant infrastructure projects in recent years and opened in February 2024.

The complex project involved in-river marine works and the construction of the approach embankments, which support two underpasses and the bascule bridge. Nearby, the local road network has been upgraded with a five-arm roundabout and dual carriageway.

The scheme was delivered in a live and operational marine port, with commercial and residential properties along the approaches to the river crossing. An extensive stakeholder engagement campaign was managed throughout this project to ensure minimal disruption to local residents and businesses.

The bridge links the A47 at Harfrey’s roundabout to the port and the enterprise zone on the other side of the river. Since opening it has significantly eased traffic congestion on the town’s roads, shortening journey times and improving journey reliability, as well as supporting wider plans and work to maximise investment, regeneration and economic growth opportunities in the town and wider borough.

One of the features that made this project truly special was that a twin bascule bridge, of such size and scale, is not common in the UK. This bridge has been designed to ensure minimal disruption to highway traffic and river traffic, so it opens and closes within 90 seconds, twenty-plus times per day.

We placed social impact at the heart of this project by investing almost £20m in local economic value, engaging with schools and colleges for site visits and workshops and creating local employment opportunities. We know that this will leave a positive legacy for many years to come.

 

Watch the exciting moment when the bascule leaves were installed on this project.