Town braced for major road closure – but will anyone take 45-mile diversion?

Victoria Road in Diss will be closed on the first of four Sundays of resurfacing work. Picture: Simon Parkin (Image: Archant)

The £100,000 project will see Victoria Road, part of the main A1066 road through Diss, closed tomorrow from the John Grose Ford garage to the Tesco entrance.

It is the first of four consecutive Sundays that will see disruption as the work is carried out to resurface the road and install improved pedestrian measures.

Dave Barley, surfacing engineer with Norfolk County Council, said: 'To minimise disruption on this busy road the work is being carried out on Sundays and will take three days to complete subject to suitable weather conditions.

'Vehicle access to businesses and properties within the limits of the closure will be maintained from one end at all times. Pedestrian access will be maintained while work is underway.

'Norfolk County Council would like to thank people for their patience while these works to replace the existing worn out road surface are carried out.'

Traffic measures will see motorists diverted on a 45-mile detour involving the A143 to Bury St Edmunds and A134 to Thetford.

The suggested diversion route via Bury and Edumnds and Thetford following the closure of the A1066 in Diss. Picture: Norfolk County Council (Image: Archant)

The suggested lengthy alternative route down into Suffolk has left some Diss residents baffled but Highway Agency rules state that diversions must be on road of a similar status as the road closed.

An explanation from Suffolk County Council states: 'Diversion routes must be of the same or higher category of road as the road which has been closed in order to cope with the same types of vehicles which would have been expected to use the closed road.

'But there are often alternative or locally known routes vehicles may choose to use. We have no powers to prevent highway users using these alternative routes.'