A �330,000 scheme to cut gridlock by extending the bus lane on a major Norwich road and introduce a new 30mph speed limit is set to start on Monday.

A �330,000 scheme to cut gridlock by extending the bus lane on a major Norwich road and introduce a new 30mph speed limit is set to start on Monday.

Work will get underway on the city-bound lane of Newmarket Road between Unthank Road back to the dual carriageway Eaton bypass where it crosses the River Yare.

Around 26 buses an hour head into Norwich along Newmarket Road, but during peak hours they are often caught up in queues of traffic before they reach the bus lane which begins at the junction with Unthank Road.

The proposal, which is being funded by the Greater Norwich Development Partnership and Norfolk County Council, will see the realignment of the central reservation at the end of the dual carriageway close to the Eaton slip roads the Poplar Avenue junction.

Supporters believe the changes will improve visibility because a safety barrier will be moved back, and some bushes removed.

Improvements for cyclists are also planned and the speed limit will be reduced from 40mph to 30mph once the scheme is completed.

During the work a temporary 30mph speed limit will be in force between Round House Way and Unthank Road. Most of the work, which is being done by May Gurney, will be carried out using lane closures, allowing the two-way flow of traffic to be maintained. But the Unthank Road junction will be closed between March 15 and 26.

The County Council is also planning to carry out some essential resurfacing, which will see the closure of the city-bound carriageway and slip-road on two Sundays, March 21 and 28.