The deadline for the start of the project was put forward during a meeting between Mr Spring and Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly, on Wednesday.

Mr Spring, who was joined by MP for Norwich South Charles Clarke, said he had been trying for a long time to highlight the dangers of the road with a member of the cabinet.

"Ruth Kelly now understands why the public is so anxious to get the road dualled. It was an enormously important meeting and she was very sympathetic," said Mr Spring after the meeting.

He added: "We have now made her aware of how important this road is. It has been rather pushed into the long grass. We shall just push on with our plans."

Mr Spring reignited urgently calls for the road to be dualled between Barton Mills and Thetford following the death of a 32-year-old man on the A11 on April 23.

Mark Archer, of Spindle Drive, Thetford, was killed at around 1.45am, when his Citroen Saxo was involved in a collision with an articulated lorry near the junction with the B1112.

The tragedy was a clear sign that the A11 was not only one of the most dangerous roads in the East of England, but also one of the most dangerous roads in the country, according to Mr Spring.

Earlier this year, the MP's campaign was backed by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), which said the works would cost just over £100 million, but result in more than £600 million in economic benefits to the region.

Christopher Fraser, MP for South West Norfolk, met the chairman of EEDA, Richard Ellis, this week to discuss the importance of the dualling of the road.

He discussed EEDA's regional economic strategy for the next three years and stressed the importance of proper road links to ensure Norfolk's long term economic success.

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