Work to build a £47m bypass in Norfolk will start next week, with drivers warned a number of roads will be shut for more than a year.

Norfolk County Council's construction of the A140 Long Stratton bypass - a new, two-and-a-half-mile, single-carriageway road, which will lead traffic past the south Norfolk town - will start on Monday, April 22.

The work, due to continue until autumn next year, will see the new road built on fields to the east of Long Stratton.

Some preparatory work has already been done, but the beginning of the main construction means side roads which the new route will cross will have to be shut.

Eastern Daily Press: An artist's impression of the Long Stratton bypassAn artist's impression of the Long Stratton bypass (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Church Lane, Edge's Lane, Hall Lane and Parkers Lane will be closed for the duration of the work, which is due to continue until autumn next year. Diversions will be put in place.

When the road is finished, Hall Lane will bridge over the bypass and Church Lane will be realigned and connected to a new roundabout at the northern end of the route.

READ MORE: Photographs show route of new A140 Long Stratton bypass

Parkers Lane will be realigned to form a link from the existing A140 to a roundabout toward the southern end of the bypass.

A number of footpaths will also need to be shut, but the council says at least two will be available, with diversions.

Eastern Daily Press: The £47m Long Stratton bypass construction is about to beginThe £47m Long Stratton bypass construction is about to begin (Image: Mike Page)

Bosses at Conservative-controlled County Hall said temporary traffic management will be needed on the A140 and some short-term road closures required, with details to be released at a later stage.

The council says access for residents and businesses will be maintained, but some minor delays and disruption are likely.

The government announced in 2021 it would give £26.2m towards the road, but the bill has since risen to £46.9m.

Some of the project's cost will be covered from developer contributions, with the project linked to the construction of 1,800 homes, but millions more is likely to have to be borrowed.

The county council is hoping the government's decision to scrap part of the HS2 rail link will make more money available for the bypass scheme - and for the Norwich Western Link.

But Department for Transport officials have yet to confirm this.