The final section of the Broadland Northway, previously known as the Norwich Northern Distributor Road, will open on Monday night, it has been announced.

Two sections of the 12.5 mile road opened before Christmas - from the A1067 Fakenham Road to the A140 and from the A140 to the A1151 Wroxham Road.

But the final section, between the A1151 and the A47 at Postwick has yet to open.

Council bosses had hoped it would open by Easter, but the snowy weather in March put paid to that.

However at a 'celebration' of the road today, which saw invited councillors and representatives driven on the road in a double decker bus, the opening date was confirmed.

Martin Wilby, chairman of Norfolk County Council's environment, transport and development committee, said at a ceremony 'I am delighted to tell you the actual opening will be on Monday night.

'Don't let anyone tell you this is a road to nowhere. It's a road to a better, brighter, more prosperous future.'

Broadland MP Keith Simpson said the goal now was to get the dual carriageway joined up with the A47 to the west of the city - the so-called western link.

That was ruled out at the original design stage for the road because of the cost of mitigating the impact of the route on environmentally sensitive areas of the Wensum Valley.

But the link is a priority for Norfolk County Council and a £160m viaduct has been mooted as a way to carry the road over the valley.

Mr Simpson said he would be pushing to help make that link a reality.

He said: 'The very fact that we have completed 80pc of it, shows that it can be done.'

Council bosses recently announced that the road, which has the number A1270, will be given the name Broadland Northway.

The final cost of the road is not yet known, with Norfolk County Council and contractor Balfour Beatty thrashing out the price tag of the road.

Design changes, diverting utilities and land purchase has added costs.

The £178.5m budget has been exceeded, with councillors agreeing to increase the budget, with the total bill estimated at £205m in November.