Land is set to be seized by council bosses so an £820,000 footpath and cycle lane revamp can be completed.
Transport secretary Mark Harper has given Norfolk County Council the go-ahead to obtain three plots of land in Bowthorpe, on the edge of Norwich.
The land is needed so changes can be made to Mayfly Way, to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Conservative-controlled council's Mayfly Way improvements use a slice of the £32m awarded to the authority through the government's Transforming Cities initiative.
Work has already been done on the stretch of the route from Harpsfield to Barnard Road, including a segregated footpath and cycleway.
But the final 200 metres, to link up with Dereham Road and Richmond Road, were not wide enough to allow that footpath and cycleway to continue.
The council needs to secure extra land to allow that to happen. County Hall needs to obtain three plots of overgrown grass verge next to the existing path, measuring 471m2, 196m2 and 41m2.
Two of the plots are unregistered, but one is in private ownership.
Attempts by the council to agree a deal with the owner to sell it have not been successful.
The council asked the government to grant what is known as a compulsory purchase order.
Such an order allows the council to obtain the land, with compensation payable to the owner.
Under the 1980s Highways Act councils can acquire land for the construction or improvements of a highway.
If someone were to come forward who could legally prove they owned the land, then the council would agree to compensate them for taking it from them.
Over 85pc of land in England and Wales has a registered owner but if it is found to be unregistered with the HM Land Registry, anyone can apply to take possession of it.
But if somebody comes along within a 12-year time frame and says it is their land, they can claim it back providing they have valid evidence to prove it.
Now Mr Harper has granted the order, there are six weeks for "a person aggrieved by the order" to challenge it in the High Court.
Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said the completed Mayfly Way scheme would improve safety for those travelling on foot or bike.
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