Adam Gretton A public inquiry opens today to determine the fate of the last single carriageway stretch of the A11.Plans for a fully dualled road between Norwich and London have been in the pipeline for almost 40 years.

Adam Gretton

A public inquiry will open today to determine the fate of the last single carriageway stretch of the A11.

Plans for a fully dualled road between Norwich and London have been in the pipeline for almost 40 years.

But the scheme could begin next year following the satisfactory completion of an inquiry into the nine mile dualling project between Thetford and Barton Mills.

The hearing, at Elveden Village Hall, will open this morning with officials from the Highways Agency putting forward their case for the upgrade, which is estimated to cost between �106m and 147m.

The public inquiry is set to last six days with officials from Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council, Shaping Norfolk's Future, the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, and the Gateway A11 East group, speaking in favour of the economic impact of the scheme tomorrow .

The case for the objectors is scheduled to start on Thursday. Five individuals and the Elveden Estate have submitted opposition about the impact on the Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills and the lack of an access road from the B1112 onto a widened A11.

The inquiry follows a long-running campaign and a petition supported by the EDP last year, which was signed by 16,000 people.

Supporters of the upgrade say that the direct and wider economic benefits of the scheme will run to well over �600m over 60 years.

See the EDP website for further updates during the day and tomorrow's paper for a full report into the opening day of the A11 public inquiry.