Protesters are threatening to hijack the grand opening of Colchester's £8m Northern Approach road.
Myland Parish Council had vowed to boycott the official opening on Thursday.
But now councillors are planning a demonstration to clash with the event.
They are flooding the area with 500 posters urging people to join the protest.
The council is furious after calls to build a tunnel to take the new highway under Mill Road were ignored.
A normal junction with traffic lights was built instead.
Protesters say children's safety is their main concern. Many youngsters will have to cross the busy junction on their way to and from school.
The posters say "Myland needs a traffic underpass", and urges "People first!".
A parish council spokesman said: "I think it will get the message across to most of the people it concerns."
County council chairman Joe Pike is due to cut a ribbon to officially open the road scheme at 2pm on Thursday.
Published Tuesday, June 24, 2003
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