Norfolk County Council is to apply for up to £100m in funding to make 'much needed' improvements to the county's A-roads.

Norwich Evening News: Cliff Jordan, leader of Norfolk County Council. Pic: SubmittedCliff Jordan, leader of Norfolk County Council. Pic: Submitted (Image: Submitted)

The Department for Transport announced the funding in the summer to rejuvenate the road network and said £100m is available per road.

Upgrade schemes which will be considered include widening projects on dual carriageways, improved safety measures and major junction improvements.

The government said proposals for bypasses and 'missing links' between existing routes will also be eligible for funding.

Council leader Cliff Jordan said all of the county's A-roads needed looking at, but added particular focus should be around the A47 and the A140.

The government said around 5,000 miles of A-roads across the country will be eligible for the multi-billion pound funding pot.

A 12-week consultation on which roads will receive the money started on December 23 and ends on March 19, 2018.

Mr Jordan said: 'The A47 is the number one issue, and we all know that.

'If we had a dual carriageway up to the Acle Straight, it would free up that end of the A47. But there are other elements all along the A47 that require work. It is the spine of Norfolk.'

He said the A140 through Long Stratton 'needed looking at', as well as the potential for bypasses around villages which are on strategic routes.

Martin Wilby, chairman of Norfolk's environment, development and transport committee, confirmed the council will be making a bid for the funding.

He added: 'The A140 is certainly on our radar because it is a main artery between Ipswich and Norwich. General improvements between Norwich and Cromer are also needed.'

Road upgrades will be developed by councils and sub-national transport bodies.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: 'For decades, these major local roads have been underfunded and not properly maintained.

'We are spending record amounts on improving our roads and we want more of our busiest roads to benefit from guaranteed investment.

'This will unlock no end of benefits for communities by improving motorists' journeys, taking traffic away from built up areas.'