A huge storage tank has been installed next to the A47 in a fresh attempt to prevent the repeated flooding which has plagued the road.

Highways engineers installed the tank, next to the road at Honingham, at the weekend.

Flooding on the A47 near HoninghamFlooding on the A47 near Honingham (Image: Zoe Rowling)

The road was shut while the tank, which measures 45ft by 10ft, was buried beneath the ground.

The idea is that the tank will collect the water, which can then be released in a controlled way.

 

The road to the west of Norwich, between Easton and Honingham, has flooded at least eight times since last October.

The problem forced the road to be shut on two occasions, or for drivers to have to negotiate potentially dangerous water.

National Highways, the government company responsible for the road, had to bring in pumps to clear the water lapping on the A47.

Pumps had to be used on the A47 to pump away floodwaterPumps had to be used on the A47 to pump away floodwater (Image: Denise Bradley)

The organisation launched investigations to establish the cause of the problem, which people living nearby said were new to that section of the A47.

They had hoped fixing a broken pipe and the construction of a soil bank would prevent further incidents - but the flooding continued.

But engineers hope the underground tank will bring an end to the water woes.

The storage tank arrives on an HGVThe storage tank arrives on an HGV (Image: National Highways)

Overnight lane closures will continue until the work is completed, with temporary traffic lights on Honingham roundabout until Friday, June 28.

Meanwhile, uncertainty still surrounds when National Highways will start work in earnest on three major A47 improvement schemes.

The multi-million pound projects had been held up due to a legal challenge by eco-campaigner Dr Andrew Boswell.

He had argued the government acted unlawfully in allowing the schemes to go ahead, as the cumulative environmental impact had not been properly considered.

But the High Court and Court of Appeal rejected his argument, while the UK Supreme Court turned down his application to continue his challenge.

National Highways had been restricted to preparatory work on dualling between Blofield and North Burlingham and from Easton to North Tuddenham.

With all legal avenues exhausted, it opens the door for National Highways to start work on those schemes, along with changes to Thickthorn roundabout, on the edge of Norwich.

But the agency has yet to reveal when work will commence, although it has announced some road closures on the A47 between Brundall and Acle.