Thousands of drivers face extra delays and diversions as the next stage begins of a £5m scheme to strengthen and resurface one of the busiest sections of road in Norfolk.

Thousands of drivers face extra delays and diversions as the next stage begins of a £5m scheme to strengthen and resurface one of the busiest sections of road in Norfolk.

About 21,700 vehicles a day use the stretch of the A47 Dereham bypass between Ascot Gardens subway and the Etling Green junction, and the Highways Agency is urging motorists to take extra care and allow extra time for their journeys while the works are taking place.

Slip roads will be closed for up to six weeks from Tuesday but the A47 will remain open.

The eastbound carriageway of the Dereham bypass, including both eastbound slip roads at the Dereham interchange and the off slip road at Etling Green, will be shut between the Ascot Gardens subway and Mattishall Road Bridge from Tuesday for three weeks. During this period traffic will run in a contraflow system on the westbound carriageway.

Following this, the westbound carriageway, including all the westbound slip roads at Etling Green and the Dereham interchange, will be closed for a further three weeks while a contraflow system is operated on the eastbound carriageway.

“The work has been programmed to be carried out in the shortest practicable time and designed to keep disruption to a minimum. Drivers on the A47, particularly drivers of wide loads, are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and to plan their routes in advance,” said a spokesman for the Highways Agency.

“The benefits to local residents and the travelling public will be a quieter surfacing and improved ride quality to the new strengthened carriageway and no works other than occasional resurfacing for the next 40 years.”

The diversion route when the slip roads are closed comes off the A47 at North Tuddenham runs down to the B1147down Norwich Road in to Dereham along Matsell Way down Neatherd Road along Wellington Road down Swaffham Road along the B1146 and along Dereham Road through Scarning before rejoining the A47 just past Wendling.

To avoid extra traffic in Dereham's town centre the diversion route from the Quebec Road and Wellington Road roundabout to the Norwich Road and Station Road junction will be via Wellington Road, Neatherd Road and Matsell Way.

Through the duration of the works there will be a 50mph speed limit enforced by speed cameras. These cameras will be removed at the end of the project.

For more details visit the Highways Agency website at www.highways.gov.uk or call 0845 7504030.