FRUSTRATED drivers used to years of misery on the A11 have a long-awaited date for their diaries – after a Government minister revealed when he expects work to dual the road will be completed.

Transport minister Norman Baker revealed that December 2014 is the date when work to dual the final single carriageway section of the road will be finished.

The surprise announcement, which is the most precise date yet given for the completion of the long-awaited work on the 9.1-mile stretch of road, was made during a debate in the House of Commons .

During a discussion on road improvements, the subject of the A11 dualling was raised, which prompted Mr Baker to state: “The massive improvement on the A11 between Fiveways and Thetford will be delivered by December 2014.”

Preliminary work for the �134million project, which will see the road widened and a new bypass built at Elveden, began last year, with the creation of an access road at the Elveden estate for large vehicles,

But the bulk of the main work is due to begin early next year, with the Government having signalled a start date between January and March.

The Highways Agency has revealed further details of what will happen next, explaining that it is working to prepare the land either side of the existing A11, so when the main construction work starts early next year, traffic can use that in an attempt to minimise disruption.

Road signs and traffic signals will be used to protect the safety of road workers