A143 road

A143
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Route information
Length	74.7 mi(120.2 km)
Major junctions
North-Eastend	Gorleston-on-Seaarea ofGreat Yarmouth
Major intersections	A47 A14 A134 A140 A144 A146 A1088 A1307
South-Westend	Haverhill
Location
Country	United Kingdom
Primary destinations	Diss Bury St Edmunds
Road network
Roads in the United Kingdom Motorways A and B road zones

TheA143is a road that runs from theGorleston-on-Seaarea ofGreat Yarmouth,inNorfolktoHaverhillinSuffolk.

For much of the route (betweenGorleston-on-SeaandBury St Edmunds) the road is classified as aprimary route.Over the years the road has been much improved with new by-passes opening at regular intervals. The last of these being theBroome–Ellinghambypass in March 2002.

Norfolk

Gorleston-on-Sea to A146

The A143 begins on Beccles Road as an off slip from theA47 road,in theGorleston-on-Seaarea ofGreat Yarmouth,this is close to the Stone Cross Roundabout. The road continues in a south-westerly direction. On leavingGorleston-on-Seathere is a very short section of dual carriageway and from there the road is a strictly rural affair and there are not many straight sections.

This part of the route runs through some lovely countryside and passes many local attractions along the way. These include Fritton Lake, Caldecotte Hall and Redwings horse sanctuary. The route passes through the villages ofSt OlavesandHaddiscoebefore joining up, for about 1 mile, with theA146at aroundabouta few miles fromBeccles.During the summer months this is an area very popular with holiday makers so the road can be quite busy at times.

A143 to Diss

The road in this area has undergone major changes in the last few decades. The original route took you through the centre of many towns and villages and has now been renumbered theB1062.From the Suffolk town ofBungayuntilHarlestonthe road follows the route of the now defunctWaveney Valley Linerailway and progress along this section of the road is generally quite good as there are no reduced speed limits, save for Billingford. The road eventually intersects with theA140NorwichtoIpswichroad, just outside the Norfolk town ofDiss.

Suffolk

Diss to Bury St Edmunds

Once the road leaves Diss it returns to an older route. This takes it through a number of villages on the way to Bury includingGreat Barton,where there has long been a campaign for a bypass. Along this section the road crosses theA1088ThetfordtoWoolpitroad atIxworth.The A1088 joins theA14at Woolpit.

Bury St Edmunds to Haverhill

On arrival in Bury the road travels underneath the A14 and at this point the route is no longer considered primary and now becomes an ordinaryA road.It then continues to wind through some nice Suffolk countryside until it links up with theA1307at Haverhill. From here it is only a short distance to theM11which gives easy access southwards toLondonand north toCambridge.There is a section that won't allow overtaking on the left until Wickhambrook but then it won't last long. There is another section that follows a similar pattern but due to multiple painted islands.

Safety

The road has been criticised for its road safety record, especially in Suffolk, where the road has been described as consistently one of the most dangerous roads in the county.

Transport links

Along the route of the A143 you pass next to or very near to a number of railway stations.

Station	Operator	Destinations
Great Yarmouth	Greater AngliaWherry Line	Norwich
Haddiscoe	Greater AngliaWherry Line	Norwich, Lowestoft
Beccles	Greater AngliaEast Suffolk Line	Lowestoft, Ipswich, London(Liverpool Street)
Diss	Greater AngliaGreat Eastern Main Line	Norwich, Ipswich, London(Liverpool Street)
Bury St Edmunds	Greater AngliaIpswich to Ely Line	Cambridge,Peterborough,Ipswich

See also

• Chicken Roundabout

External links

• SABRE Roads by Ten – A143
• [1]