St Stephens Street in Norwich closing to finish £6.1m revamp

Work to install 12 new bus shelters in St Stephens Street will happen over eight weeks from April 17, requiring lane closures and one-way systems to be in place.

The busy thoroughfare reopened in October last year after the 10-month project came to an end.

One-way systems and lane closures will be in place for eight weeks (Image: Sonya Duncan)

But a delay to Norfolk County Council's order for the new bus shelters meant the installation had to be pushed back.

The council said factors such as materials, fabrication, shipping, cost and staffing had all triggered delays to projects across the construction industry.

During the works, a lane closure and one-way system will operate, which will switch sides and change direction midway to begin work on the other side of the street.

Works will begin on the inbound, Chantry Place shopping centre side of the road.

READ MORE: Value for money of Norwich roadworks to be investigated

Diversions and safety barriers will be in place throughout the works and bus stops will not be in operation on the closed lane side.

Bus passengers should check with bus companies for any alterations to timings.

Eight of the new shelters will have living roofs with a mixture of wildflowers on top to help bees and pollinators, according to Norfolk County Council. 

St Stephens Street taken after it reopened in October (Image: Archant)

The new layout of the street has been branded as "dangerous" for cyclists over the risk of accidents due to inadequate visibility for bus drivers swinging out of the new sawtooth bays.

Derek Williams, spokesman for the Norwich Cycling Campaign, said: "The new road layout is absolutely lethal for cyclists. It's going to be very dangerous."

Council leaders have defended work on St Stephens Street, saying it is "something Norwich should be proud of".