Construction will start this winter on the new 19.6km dual carriageway, which includes nine new roundabouts, seven new bridges, an underpass and a more complex two level junction.

A workforce of over 500 will be employed on the project at construction peak, with the project sue to finish is late 2017.

The new dual carriageway will run from the A1067 Fakenham Road, crossing the A140 at Norwich International Airport and joining the A47 at Postwick, at the eastern end of Norwich Southern Bypass.

Balfour Beatty was awarded the ECI phase of the NNDR scheme in 2009 and has since then been assisting Norfolk County Council with design development, construction feasibility advice and development of the scheme’s target cost.

The contractor is already working on Norfolk County Council’s £27m Postwick junction project that will join the NNDR with the A47 trunk road.

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, said: “This project draws on Balfour Beatty’s expertise in successfully partnering with local authorities to deliver large, complex infrastructure projects.  

“We have extensive proven experience of major road schemes, from the ECI phase through to concept and construction programme development and a strong relationship with Norfolk County Council having collaborated on this project over the last six and a half years.”