A146 road
Encyclopedia
The A146 is a road that runs between two of East Anglia's largest population centres - Norwich
in Norfolk
and Lowestoft
in Suffolk
.
The entire route has primary classification and as such has been improved over the years, although traffic levels can lead to delays.
and headed out along Bracondale and out through Trowse
. However according to maps it now begins just south of the roundabout as a fork from the A11 outside the site of the old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (which has since relocated to Colney
). This first section (Ipswich Road) is actually signed as the A1056 on the ground but appears as the A146 on maps! Either way it used to be the A140
, which now forms the western section of the outer ringroad. The A146/A1056 meets the A140 ringroad at traffic lights where the A140 resumes its route south to Ipswich
and the A146 turns to the east to take over the southern section of the ringroad. After the Tuckswood roundabout (with McDonalds) comes another change of direction as the A146 relinquishes control of the outer ringroad to the A1054 and turns right onto a dual carriageway to bypass Trowse
and leave Norwich in a south-easterly direction, which it generally maintains through the rest of its journey.
and the River Yare
on a viaduct, and leads to the junction with the A47
Norwich southern bypass (which it passes under) and shortly afterwards in Bixley
to a junction with the B1332 (which heads south to Bungay
). Soon after the A146 returns to single carriageway, passing through Framingham Pigot
, Hellington Corner
and Thurton
before crossing the River Chet
. The speed limit drops from 60 mi/h to 50 mi/h and then 40 mi/h as you pass through the village. The limit is enforced by a speed camera at the bottom of the valley. Another change to its route is Loddon
which is now bypassed to the south (the original road went straight through the town). Along the route of the bypass, at the junction with Mundham Road, the 60 miles per hour (26.8 m/s) speed limit is once again enforced by a speed camera. Beyond Loddon it passes the village of Hales
at the junction of the B1136 for Great Yarmouth
. This area is an accident blackspot due to the presence of a petrol station and the amount of traffic using the B1136 junction. Between Hales and Stockton several curves in the road are negotiated, old stretches of the route can be seen in what are now laybys. The stockton stone can be seen next to one of these laybys halfway between Hales and the roundabout. The roundabout is where the A143
from Diss
briefly joins it. A short downhill section brings us to a roundabout where the A143 splits off and continues on its way to Great Yarmouth
. Also on this roundabout are some services - a BP
garage and a McDonald's
restaurant. The original route of the road used to take you through Gillingham
, Beccles
and Worlingham
but the modern route misses all of this out, bypassing them to the north. Crossing the River Waveney
we leave Norfolk and enter Suffolk
and a little further on at a roundabout the A145
gives access to Beccles
.
at a level crossing and road leads past Beccles Common and Wild Carr woods on to another roundabout and another new stretch of road, the original road can be seen to the north, just through the trees. The speed limit from here has been reduced to 50 mi/h for safety reasons, the road passing North Cove
and Barnby
. On entering Carlton Colville
on the edge of the Lowestoft
built up area, Rookery Park Golf Club is passed. A relief road links Carlton Colville with the centre of Lowestoft, and the A146 turns slightly to the north past Oulton Broad South railway station
and into Oulton Broad
before returning to its previous easterly direction following the southern side of Lake Lothing
. The road ends at its junction with the A12 just south of Lowestoft's bascule bridge
.
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
.
The entire route has primary classification and as such has been improved over the years, although traffic levels can lead to delays.
Norwich
Before the construction of the southern bypass the A146 started in the city centre at St. Stephens Roundabout (near Norwich bus stationNorwich bus station
Norwich Bus Station is situated in Surrey Street, Norwich, Norfolk, England. It is served by a number of bus companies as well as National Express and the open top Norwich Tour bus.-Statistics:It was opened on 30 August 2005 at a cost of £5 million and two months later than planned...
and headed out along Bracondale and out through Trowse
Trowse
Trowse, also called Trowse with Newton, is a village in South Norfolk which lies about south-east of Norwich city centre on the banks of the River Yare. It covers an area of and had a population of 479 in 233 households as of the 2001 census....
. However according to maps it now begins just south of the roundabout as a fork from the A11 outside the site of the old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (which has since relocated to Colney
Colney
Colney is a village in the western outskirts of Norwich in Norfolk, England. It is in the administrative district of South Norfolk. It covers an area of and had a population of 124 in 35 households at the 2001 census....
). This first section (Ipswich Road) is actually signed as the A1056 on the ground but appears as the A146 on maps! Either way it used to be the A140
A140 road
The A140 is an 'A-class' road in Norfolk and Suffolk, East Anglia, England partly following the route of the Roman Pye Road. It runs from the A14 near Needham Market to the A149 south of Cromer. It is of primary status for the entirety of its route. It is approximately 56 miles in length...
, which now forms the western section of the outer ringroad. The A146/A1056 meets the A140 ringroad at traffic lights where the A140 resumes its route south to Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
and the A146 turns to the east to take over the southern section of the ringroad. After the Tuckswood roundabout (with McDonalds) comes another change of direction as the A146 relinquishes control of the outer ringroad to the A1054 and turns right onto a dual carriageway to bypass Trowse
Trowse
Trowse, also called Trowse with Newton, is a village in South Norfolk which lies about south-east of Norwich city centre on the banks of the River Yare. It covers an area of and had a population of 479 in 233 households as of the 2001 census....
and leave Norwich in a south-easterly direction, which it generally maintains through the rest of its journey.
Norwich to Beccles
The Trowse bypass crosses over the Great Eastern Main LineGreat Eastern Main Line
The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
and the River Yare
River Yare
The River Yare is a river in the English county of Norfolk. In its lower reaches the river connects with the navigable waterways of The Broads....
on a viaduct, and leads to the junction with the A47
A47 road
The A47 is a trunk road in England originally linking Birmingham to Great Yarmouth. Most of the section between Birmingham and Nuneaton is now classified as the B4114.-Route:...
Norwich southern bypass (which it passes under) and shortly afterwards in Bixley
Bixley
Bixley is a civil parish in the South Norfolk district of Norfolk, England. According to the 2001 census it contained 60 households and a population of 144. It covers an area south of Norwich including the village of Arminghall....
to a junction with the B1332 (which heads south to Bungay
Bungay, Suffolk
Bungay is a market town in the English county of Suffolk. It lies in the Waveney valley, west of Beccles on the edge of The Broads, and at the neck of a meander of the River Waveney.-Early history:...
). Soon after the A146 returns to single carriageway, passing through Framingham Pigot
Framingham Pigot
Framingham Pigot is a village in South Norfolk lying about 4 miles southeast of Norwich. In the 2001 census it contained 62 households and a population of 167. It covers an area of ....
, Hellington Corner
Hellington
Hellington is a small village in the county of Norfolk, England. In the 2001 census it contained 24 households and a population of 69.It is centred around a crossroads ½ mile south of Rockland St. Mary and around 6½ miles southeast of Norwich. The road north leads to Rockland St. Mary, south...
and Thurton
Thurton
The village should not be confused with Thurlton which is 6 miles to the east.Thurton is a village in South Norfolk lying 8½ miles south-east of Norwich on the A146 Norwich to Lowestoft road between Framingham Pigot and Loddon. The A146 effectively divides the village in two; a 40 mph limit...
before crossing the River Chet
River Chet
The River Chet is a small river in South Norfolk, England, and a tributary of the River Yare. It rises in Poringland and then flows eastwards through Alpington, Bergh Apton, Thurton and Loddon. At Loddon it passes under the A146 and then through Loddon Mill and into Loddon Staithe. From this point...
. The speed limit drops from 60 mi/h to 50 mi/h and then 40 mi/h as you pass through the village. The limit is enforced by a speed camera at the bottom of the valley. Another change to its route is Loddon
Loddon, Norfolk
Loddon is a small market town about southeast of Norwich on the River Chet, a tributary of the River Yare within The Broads in Norfolk, England. The name "Loddon" is thought to mean muddy river in Celtic in reference to the Chet.-Origins:...
which is now bypassed to the south (the original road went straight through the town). Along the route of the bypass, at the junction with Mundham Road, the 60 miles per hour (26.8 m/s) speed limit is once again enforced by a speed camera. Beyond Loddon it passes the village of Hales
Hales
Hales is a small village in Norfolk, England. It covers an area of and had a population of 479 in 192 households as of the 2001 census.-Church of St Margaret:...
at the junction of the B1136 for Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
. This area is an accident blackspot due to the presence of a petrol station and the amount of traffic using the B1136 junction. Between Hales and Stockton several curves in the road are negotiated, old stretches of the route can be seen in what are now laybys. The stockton stone can be seen next to one of these laybys halfway between Hales and the roundabout. The roundabout is where the A143
A143 road
The A143 is a road that runs from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk to Haverhill in Suffolk.For much of the route the road is classified as a primary route. Over the years the road has been much improved with new by-passes opening at regular intervals...
from Diss
Diss
Diss is a town in Norfolk, England close to the border with the neighbouring East Anglian county of Suffolk.The town lies in the valley of the River Waveney, around a mere that covers . The mere is up to deep, although there is another of mud, making it one of the deepest natural inland lakes...
briefly joins it. A short downhill section brings us to a roundabout where the A143 splits off and continues on its way to Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
. Also on this roundabout are some services - a BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
garage and a McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurant. The original route of the road used to take you through Gillingham
Gillingham, Norfolk
Gillingham is a small village located just off the A146 in South Norfolk, about 1 mile north of the market town of Beccles. The full name of the parish is Gillingham All Saints and St Mary...
, Beccles
Beccles
Beccles is a market town and civil parish in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. The town is shown on the milestone as from London via the A145 Blythburgh and A12 road, northeast of London as the crow flies, southeast of Norwich, and north northeast of the county town of...
and Worlingham
Worlingham
Worlingham is a village and civil parish in the Waveney district of Suffolk, England about east of Beccles. As of 2008 it is effectively a suburb of Beccles...
but the modern route misses all of this out, bypassing them to the north. Crossing the River Waveney
River Waveney
The Waveney is a river which forms the border between Suffolk and Norfolk, England, for much of its length within The Broads.-Course:The source of the River Waveney is a ditch on the east side of the B1113 road between the villages of Redgrave, Suffolk and South Lopham, Norfolk...
we leave Norfolk and enter Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
and a little further on at a roundabout the A145
A145 road
The A145 is a road that connects the town of Beccles in Suffolk to the South.The entire route is a standard A road classification and although not particularly long it does provide a useful route onto the main A12 to Ipswich.-Route description:Beccles...
gives access to Beccles
Beccles
Beccles is a market town and civil parish in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. The town is shown on the milestone as from London via the A145 Blythburgh and A12 road, northeast of London as the crow flies, southeast of Norwich, and north northeast of the county town of...
.
Beccles to Lowestoft
A short distance further on the road crosses over the East Suffolk LineEast Suffolk Line
The East Suffolk Line is an un-electrified secondary railway line running between Ipswich and Lowestoft in Suffolk, England. The traffic along the route consists of passenger services operated by National Express East Anglia, while nuclear flask trains for the Sizewell nuclear power stations are...
at a level crossing and road leads past Beccles Common and Wild Carr woods on to another roundabout and another new stretch of road, the original road can be seen to the north, just through the trees. The speed limit from here has been reduced to 50 mi/h for safety reasons, the road passing North Cove
North Cove
North Cove is on the A146, in between Beccles and Lowestoft in Suffolk. The local church is called St. Boltoph and contains medieval wall paintings....
and Barnby
Barnby, Suffolk
Barnby is a village and civil parish in the Waveney district of Suffolk, England. The village is six miles west of Lowestoft, and runs into the village of North Cove which constitutes a separate parish. The village contains a pub - "The Swan" - and a gardening centre.Church of England benefice of...
. On entering Carlton Colville
Carlton Colville
Carlton Colville is an area in the suburbs of Lowestoft in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk, located south-west of the centre of the town. Significant residential development has occurred in the area since the 1960s, including more than 1,000 homes built in Carlton Park...
on the edge of the Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
built up area, Rookery Park Golf Club is passed. A relief road links Carlton Colville with the centre of Lowestoft, and the A146 turns slightly to the north past Oulton Broad South railway station
Oulton Broad South railway station
Oulton Broad South is one of two railway stations serving Oulton Broad, a suburb of Lowestoft in Suffolk, England.The station is located on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line...
and into Oulton Broad
Oulton Broad
Oulton Broad refers to both the lake and the suburb of Lowestoft in Suffolk, England located 2 miles west of the centre of the town.-Oulton Broad:...
before returning to its previous easterly direction following the southern side of Lake Lothing
Lake Lothing
Lake Lothing is a saltwater lake located in Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. The lake, which is believed to be the remnant of medieval peat cutting, flows into the North Sea and forms part of the Port of Lowestoft...
. The road ends at its junction with the A12 just south of Lowestoft's bascule bridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
.
Transport links
The route of the A146 passes near to a number of railway stations.| Station | Operator | Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| Norwich | National Express East Anglia Wherry Line, Great Eastern Main Line Great Eastern Main Line The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as... Central Trains Central Trains Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:... |
Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea... , Lowestoft Lowestoft Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich... , Ipswich Ipswich Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell... , Cambridge Cambridge The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the... , Sheringham Sheringham Sheringham is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, west of Cromer.The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban District Council, is Mare Ditat Pinusque Decorat, Latin for "The sea enriches and the pine adorns".... , London(Liverpool Street) Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... , Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
| Beccles | National Express East Anglia East Suffolk Line East Suffolk Line The East Suffolk Line is an un-electrified secondary railway line running between Ipswich and Lowestoft in Suffolk, England. The traffic along the route consists of passenger services operated by National Express East Anglia, while nuclear flask trains for the Sizewell nuclear power stations are... |
Lowestoft, Ipswich, London(Liverpool Street) |
| Oulton Broad South | National Express East Anglia Wherry Line | Ipswich, Lowestoft |
| Lowestoft | National Express East Anglia Wherry Line, East Suffolk Line East Suffolk Line The East Suffolk Line is an un-electrified secondary railway line running between Ipswich and Lowestoft in Suffolk, England. The traffic along the route consists of passenger services operated by National Express East Anglia, while nuclear flask trains for the Sizewell nuclear power stations are... |
Norwich, Ipswich, London(Liverpool Street) |