A47 roadworks for wind turbine project could last 3 years

The restrictions, which began this week, involve the overnight closure of one lane of traffic between Honingham and Easton, near Norwich.

That stretch of road is a single carriageway, so a traffic light system has been introduced.

The closure is to allow for a trench to be dug for a cable to connect electricity from a new wind farm off the coast to the National Grid.

Officials from National Highways say the restrictions will remain in place until 2026, although the energy company behind the Hornsea wind project say they hope the work will be completed much sooner.

A spokesman said the bulk of the work could be finished in as little as eight weeks.

The works are related to the Hornsea Three wind farm development off the North Norfolk coast (Image: Archant)

As part of the restrictions, two smaller roads that join the A47 - Taverham Road and Blind Lane - have also been closed.

A 30 mph speed restriction will also be in place at the notorious bottleneck, where the busy road goes down to a single carriageway.

The stretch is due to be dualled as part of a major road improvement project.

However, the scheme has been delayed by a high court challenge lodged by climate change activists.

A spokesman for the Hornsea development said: "These closures, agreed with Norfolk County Council, are required to implement junction improvements needed to deliver the wind farm."

The wind farm was given the go-ahead in 2020 by the government and will see 230 turbines built, 75 miles off the Norfolk coast.

An undersea cable will come ashore at Weybourne. From there, a trench is being dug through the countryside to allow the electricity to reach the grid.

The wind farm is one of the biggest offshore projects in the world.