Steel reinforcement used on Norwich Northern Distributor Road will be 100% British, main contractor Balfour Beatty confirmed on Friday 15 April 2016.

The 20km dual carriageway, developed by Norfolk County Council, is the biggest local authority-promoted road construction scheme in the country, running around the east and north of Norwich from the A47 at Postwick (at the eastern end of Norwich Southern Bypass) to the A1067 Norwich to Fakenham road.

The main construction contract, which started on 4 January, includes nine main structures – six bridges over the new road, and three under (an underpass and two bridges to cross the Norwich to Sheringham railway and Plumstead Road). Work is now moving from site preparation to the main construction.

Balfour Beatty signed up to the UK Steel Charter last year, committing the company to using UK steel. In the wake of problems faced by the British steel industry, Balfour Beatty today confirmed that all steel reinforcement used on the NDR would be British, supplied by BRC from its Cardiff-based sister company Celsa Steel Services. Celsa produces the steel from UK scrap, which BRC uses to provide the finished reinforcement bars.

George Nobbs, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said:  “As far as I am concerned both local and national government should be using British steel, so I am delighted that this will be the case with the Northern Distributor Road. So as well as creating and supporting hundreds of jobs locally, the construction of the road and its bridges will support much needed jobs in South Wales.”