Plans for the Norwich Western Link have still not been lodged, with council bosses still waiting for the government to confirm if it will give millions more for the controversial road.
Leaders at Norfolk County Council hope this week's budget from chancellor Jeremy Hunt could be the catalyst for a decision on whether County Hall will get nearly £40m extra from the government for the £274m scheme.
The Department for Transport announced in October that it would fund £213m towards the road, which would connect the Northern Distributor Road to the A47 west of Norwich.
That long-delayed confirmation came after the government scrapped part of the HS2 rail route.
But the DfT said there could potentially be up to £38m more available - and County Hall officers have been pushing for confirmation.
However, a council spokeswoman said the authority had yet to be told whether it will get the extra cash.
And that means County Hall officers will be hoping Mr Hunt's budget triggers the loosening of the purse strings.
The council agreed in December to lodge plans for the road to its own planning committee, but that has yet to happen.
The spokeswoman said work to finalise those plans continues.
The pot of money available due to the HS2 decision appears, however, appears to be dwindling.
Ministers announced last week that about £4.7bn which would have been spent on the Manchester and Leeds section will be shared between smaller towns and cities in the north of England and the Midlands - which means none of the cash will come to Norfolk.
Meanwhile, critics of the road, which includes a viaduct over the Wensum Valley, are urging more people to join them in opposing the project during the planning process.
The Stop The Wensum Link group has sent an open letter to all parish councils in Norfolk, criticising the "exorbitant cost of the road" and the environmental consequences of building it.
The group said: "Town and parish councils are crucial voices for local interest. We hope you will use your voice and rally local opinion against this financially and environmentally damaging road."
The county council has said the road is needed to boost Norfolk's economy and to stop rat-running in villages to the west of Norwich.
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