Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been secured to help improve traffic flow along the A140 just days after authorities agreed to press forward with the project.

Diss Mercury: These are the proposed plans for the roundabout which would replace the dangerous Hempnall crossroads on the A140 near Long Stratton. Image: Norfolk County CouncilThese are the proposed plans for the roundabout which would replace the dangerous Hempnall crossroads on the A140 near Long Stratton. Image: Norfolk County Council (Image: Archant)

The Hempnall crossroads have been labelled an accident black spot and plans for a new roundabout to be built at the junction near Long Stratton have received a boost with £650,770 from the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)

The money will be added to more than £3m already in the pot from government funds to help pay for the £4.4m project.

Doug Field, the chair of New Anglia LEP, said 'The A140 corridor has huge potential for generating economic growth through new enterprise, jobs and homes, but only if improvements are made.

'These projects will improve safety and ease congestion along the road, while also delivering tangible economic benefits to both north Suffolk and south Norfolk.'

A public consultation returned a feeling of strong support from those affected by congestion on the A140.

The consultation - which ran from March 1 to April 10 this year - received 456 responses with less than a dozen people opposing the scheme.

Of the respondents, 93pc said they either agreed or strongly agreed with the proposals, with 76.7pc – 350 people – saying they strongly supported it.

Martin Wilby, chairman of Norfolk County Council's environment, transport and development committee, said: 'We know improvements to the A140 Hempnall junction have strong support from Richard Bacon, MP for South Norfolk, local people, parish councils and county councillors.

'We've identified a suitable value for money scheme and secured funding for a new roundabout that will help to ease congestion, encourage economic growth, facilitate housing development, improve road safety and access and reduce delays.

'It's very welcome news that all the funding is now in place. As members of the Norfolk County Council's Environment, Transport and Development Committee approved the submission of a planning application for the new roundabout last week the crucial next step can now be made on this important scheme.'

In the past five years, 10 separate collisions have occurred at the junction.

Amy Cole, a project engineer for the council, said should the planning process go smoothly, the roundabout should be in place by Autumn 2019.