Photos show A47 works between Blofield and North Burlingham

The images show depot sites created alongside the road between Blofield and North Burlingham, to be used by workers and vehicles once construction gets under way.

It remains unclear when the dualling work will actually start, as ongoing legal challenges by eco-campaigner Dr Andrew Boswell continue to delay the process.

National Highways believe the delays caused by Dr Boswell's case - which was thrown out last week by the Court of Appeal - have already cost the taxpayers tens of millions of pounds, because of inflation and legal costs.

Judges told him his argument - that the cumulative carbon impact of the work and two other A47 improvement schemes have not been fully considered - had "no logical basis" and had "an air of complete unreality".

Yet Dr Boswell - whose legal challenges are crowdfunded - has said he is still considering taking the case to the Supreme Court.A47 dualling Blofield to North Burlingham (Image: Mike Page)The case has triggered a fierce row, with Dr Boswell branded a "hypocrite" by Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman after it emerged that despite his campaigning against the road, the former UEA academic drives a petrol car and uses the A47.
Dr Andrew Boswell (Image: Dan Grimmer)Dr Boswell told this newspaper: "I drive my wife's VW Golf and we've had it for 10 years - it was around the lowest emissions you could get at the time and still is, as car emissions in general have not come down. I do use the A47, but not regularly.

"I am a scientist and all of my work is done on that basis. I am not doing anything just to be a contrarian.

"The cost of climate change is greater than the cost of this case. There is big money needed to deal with coastal erosion, flooding, and other issues that make it impossible for people to live." 

READ MORE: Four weeks of work to start soon on 'worst road in town'

A47 dualling Blofield to North Burlingham (Image: Mike Page)He also admitted that he did not spend any of his own money on the campaign against the road schemes. "It was entirely funded by the generosity of thousands of people," he added.

Nearly £70,000 was raised from members of the public for legal fees through crowdfunding. 

As well as a hypocrite, Mr Freeman also described Dr Boswell as a "villain" and said he was "holding Norfolk to ransom" with his repeated legal challenges holding up the safety projects and driving up the costs.

Mr Freeman added: "It's outrageous, his hypocrisy is extraordinary. He's not the one sitting in congestion, watching people die in car crashes.

"He might not be paying for this legal game but the people of Norfolk are. We're all paying, and he's the one person who isn't.

"He is not acting on behalf of the people of Norfolk. He's not a hero and he's becoming a villain."

The three projects delayed by Dr Boswell's legal challenges are the dualling of just over 1.6 miles between Blofield and North Burlingham - considered an accident blackspot by police; the dualling of 5.5 miles between Easton and North Tuddenham; and an upgrade of Thickthorn  roundabout, including a new slip road off the A11 northbound, which will take motorists beneath both roads before re-joining traffic on the A47 heading towards Great Yarmouth.

A47 dualling Blofield to North Burlingham (Image: Mike Page)The works are intended to improve safety, reduce congestion and boost the local economy.

Dr Boswell, a former Green city and county councillor who stood unsuccessfully for parliament three times, claims their cumulative impact on carbon emissions has not been properly taken into account and the construction work will add 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next few years.

He lost his case at the High Court in May 2023, but took the case to the Court of Appeal.

Mr Freeman said that he would be approaching the secretary of state for transport, Mark Harper, to urge that the long-delayed schemes get fully under way despite the threat of further legal challenges.