POLITICIANS have given the go-ahead to complete the dualling of a Suffolk stretch of the A11 between Norwich and London, it emerged today. The government ordered a start on key preparation work on a £101million scheme to improve road links between the two cities - the culmination of a campaign that started more than 30 years agoMPs, businesses leaders, and transport officials spoke of their optimism after it emerged that construction work on the long-awaited fast track upgrade of the road between Thetford and Barton Mills/Fiveways roundabout could start within three years.

POLITICIANS have given the go-ahead to complete the dualling of a Suffolk stretch of the A11 between Norwich and London, it emerged today.

The government ordered a start on key preparation work on a £101million scheme to improve road links between the two cities - the culmination of a campaign that started more than 30 years ago

MPs, businesses leaders, and transport officials spoke of their optimism after it emerged that construction work on the long-awaited fast track upgrade of the road between Thetford and Barton Mills/Fiveways roundabout could start within three years.

Roads minister Stephen Ladyman has instructed the Highways Agency to press ahead with the two year statutory process.

The seven mile stretch that runs through Elveden is the last remaining single carriageway part of the A11, making Norwich the only major city in the country not to be linked to London by a dual carriageway trunk road.

An estimated 160,000 vehicles pass through the overly congested and accident blackspot route every week, which business leaders say is stifling the local economy.

Officials hope that the government backing will put added pressure on the East of England Regional Assembly to bring forward the seven mile dualling project, which is currently not budgeted for until at least 2011/12.

Brian Stewart, chief executive of EERA has already told Mr Fraser that he would “expect” the scheme to be one of the region's “top transport priorities”, and to become a funded scheme at the “very earliest opportunity.”

Mr Fraser yesterday said: “I am hugely encouraged by this step forward, which effectively means that the government is backing the upgrade.”

Richard Spring, MP for South West Suffolk, who has been campaigning for the multi-million pound project for the last 12 years, added that he welcomed the government support, but he would only be cracking open the champagne once an official start date and budget commitment had been made..

The A11 borders two Sites of Special Scientific Interest, which are regarded for their valuable forest and heathland habitats.

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