New cameras to monitor King's Lynn traffic flows

Traffic monitoring cameras have been installed in dozens of locations around Lynn, as part of continuing work on a study of transport issues.

Officials say the data gathered will be used to help develop proposed measures to tackle known traffic and air pollution problems in the town.

And they have revealed that a new assessment will also be carried out to determine whether more can be done to improve flows through one of the town’s busiest junctions.

The new cameras, which have been installed this week, are in place both within Lynn and at sites on important feeder routes, such as the old A17 in West Lynn.

Ian Parkes, transport planner for Norfolk County Council, said the work had initially been scheduled to take place in the spring, but was then delayed after repairs to bridges at the Saddlebow interchange overran.

He said: “We have spent the last few months collecting a lot of evidence and talking to people. We had a lot of stakeholder sessions and we have a lot of information about what the problems are.”

He added that the information collected from the cameras would be used to undertake modelling work over the coming months.

The cameras are the latest phase of the study, which saw an experimental road layout introduced to London Road in April in an attempt to improve traffic flows heading out of the town centre.

The work will also see a new survey carried out to consider what more can be done to improve flows around the Southgates roundabout.

Mr Parkes said many users felt the switch to two outbound lanes on London Road had improved the situation, but admitted they had also received concerns about the increased difficulty of joining London Road from Valingers Road.

The traffic lights there were removed as part of the trial and replaced with a normal T-junction, while a dedicated right turn lane from London Road was introduced .

Mr Parkes said no final decision on the long-term road layout had been made, but warned that a balance needed to be struck between the needs of all drivers.

He said: “The people of Valingers Road have had the advantage of a signal junction possibly at the detriment of many more road users.”