The first phase of work in a major shake-up in how traffic uses the Prince of Wales Road area of Norwich will start later this month.

Norwich Evening News: Mike Stonard, cabinet member for sustainable and inclusive growth, said the council was investing in property to make up for money lost through government cuts. Photo : Steve AdamsMike Stonard, cabinet member for sustainable and inclusive growth, said the council was investing in property to make up for money lost through government cuts. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Copyright Archant Norfolk 2016)

The £2.75m Transport for Norwich scheme will see a number of changes to the roads in the area and the first work will see alterations made to King Street.

It will see the right hand turn into King Street from Agricultural Hall Plain permanently closed to traffic from Sunday, October 28.

On that day, and for one day only, there will be no access to Prince of Wales Road at all from Agricultural Hall Plain and buses will be diverted.

The work will see King Street, between Prince of Wales Road and Rose Lane, converted into a pedestrian/cycle zone and it will be closed to traffic.

Norwich Evening News: King Street in Norwich. Pic: Dan Grimmer.King Street in Norwich. Pic: Dan Grimmer. (Image: Archant)

Access to Greyfriars Road, off King Street, will be via Rose Lane, rather than Prince of Wales Road and traffic which currently uses King Sreet to get to Rose Lane will instead have to go via St Vedast Street.

The layout of Agricultural Hall Plain to account for the closure of King Street, while the light-controlled junction at King Street/Rose Lane, with a cycle and pedestrian crossing of Rose Lane.

Mike Stonard, Norwich City Council's vice-chair of Norwich Highways Agency Committee, said: 'Work on King Street is the first step in improving the Prince of Wales Road area for pedestrians, cyclists and general traffic.

'This phase will see a new high quality link for those on foot and bike and the reduction of car movements from side roads will help address congestion on Rose Lane.

'The overall project aims to build on the success of recent changes around Westlegate, which have breathed new life into the area by making Norwich an even better place to be.

'We will be working with our contractor to minimise disruption and would like to thank all those affected for their patience while work takes place.'

As well as closing King Street, later phases of the work will see pavements on Rose Lane widened with improved cycling facilities.

The original plan had been to close off Prince of Wales Road to general traffic, but that was scrapped when traffic modelling showed it would actually slow buses down.

New contraflow cycle lanes will be installed in Prince of Wales Road and Bank Street.