Drivers have been reassured that works to improve one of the region's busiest junctions will go ahead on schedule - despite the postponement of a consultation into the project.

Eastern Daily Press: Easter Monday misery as traffic builds on the A47 queuing for the Thickthorn junction to get on the A11. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYEaster Monday misery as traffic builds on the A47 queuing for the Thickthorn junction to get on the A11. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Improvements to the A47/A11 Thickthorn roundabout make up a part of a major scheme to improve the A47, with works potentially costing up to £50m earmarked to begin in 2020.

The latest round of consultation into the scheme had been scheduled to begin in June, however this has now been postponed until later in the year - with an exact date still to be confirmed.

In spite of this though, bosses at Highways England have insisted this will not impact on when the improvements are carried out.

Guy Lewis, Highways England A47 senior project manager, said: 'We are committed to major improvements at the Thickthorn interchange, which is part of a £300m package of upgrades for the A47 and still expect work to start in 2020, as planned.

'We ran a public consultation on our plans for Thickthorn last spring and announced our preferred option in August.

'A further public consultation was planned to start in the coming weeks, but we have rescheduled it for later this year while we review the proposals to make sure the project will achieve its objectives while remaining affordable and offering value for money.'

The proposed scheme would see two new link roads built, connecting the A11 south to the A47 east via three underpasses.

Highways England is also considering its options to maintain access to Cantley Lane South.

The scheme is one of four major works for the A47 in Norfolk, which would see some sections of the road made into dual carriageway.

The other schemes are:

• Creating a new dual carriageway section between North Tuddenham and Easton (work starting April 2021)

• Creating a dualled section between Blofield and North Burlingham (work starting March 2020)

• Making improvements to both the Vauxhall and Gapton junctions in Great Yarmouth (work starting 2019)

As it stands, the final part of the scheme - the Blofield to North Burlingham dualling - is scheduled to be completed and open to traffic in December 2023.