Highways chiefs say work to dual two sections of the A47 in Norfolk is going well - but a dry winter will be crucial to maintain the good progress.

Long-awaited work to dual the road between Blofield and North Burlingham and from Easton to North Tuddenham finally got under way this summer.

And bosses from National Highways - the government company responsible for the work - said they are making "really good progress" on the work.

Chris Griffin, A47 programme leader for National Highways, said work to re-route utilities pipes on the Blofield to North Burlingham section was drawing to a close.

He said work would begin in the autumn to put in the piling necessary for new structures along the route, such as a new bridge over the A47 to connect the villages of Blofield and North Burlingham.

The A47 will be dualled between North Burlingham and BlofieldThe A47 will be dualled between North Burlingham and Blofield (Image: Mike Page)

The work will see 1.5 miles of the road dualled and will cost about £100m.

Mr Griffin said piling work is also ongoing on the section between Easton and North Tuddenham, where five-and-a-half miles is being dualled at a cost of up to £250m.

He said vegetation on that section had been cleared and new tanks installed near Honingham to prevent flooding - an issue which closed the road a number of times last winter.

Mr Griffin said: "We are making really good progress. All is looking very good. We just need a nice, dry winter and we will see the scheme progressing very well."

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National Highways started the main dualling work, due to continue until 2026/2027, on both sections of the A47 in August.

Before that, the organisation was limited to preparatory work, because of a legal challenge against the government's decision to grant permission for the work.

Dr Andrew BoswellDr Andrew Boswell (Image: Dan Grimmer)

Eco-campaigner Dr Andrew Boswell, a former city and county councillor, had taken the matter to the High Court and Court of Appeal.

But his argument - that the government had acted unlawfully in granting permission for A47 schemes because the cumulative environmental impact had not been properly considered - was dismissed.

He asked for the case to be considered at the Supreme Court, but that was rejected, allowing the main construction work to begin.