Highways bosses fear a vital A12 link road may not be built at all if their preferred southern route is rejected following a public inquiry.
All evidence has now been heard in the inquiry into the Hatfield Peverel link road and the Government will make a decision in a few months' time.
The Highways Agency says the new Witham to Hatfield Peverel link road needs to be built urgently along the south side of the A12, to reduce traffic congestion and accidents on the trunk road.
On that section of the A12 between 1996-2002 there were 115 crashes resulting in 180 casualties roughly double the average elsewhere on the A12.
Some objectors want the road to take a route north of the A12 rather than south of it, but the Highways Agency says that might delay construction or prevent it being built at all.
In evidence submitted on the final day of the inquiry at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Rivenhall End, yesterday, Highways Agency spokesmen explained why they opposed the northern route option.
There would be less noise and air pollution for more houses under the northern scheme, and the cost would be about the same between £3.6 million and £3.9 million.
But a study by the agency found that although the northern route had more environmental benefits because it avoided the densely populated Gleneagles Way area of Hatfield Peverel the southern route scored better on safety criteria and would be cheaper to build.
There was no difference between the schemes in terms of accessibility and integration, but the northern route would involve the demolition of 11 houses.
Philip Cheesmur, Highways Agency project sponsor, said if the southern route was rejected, it would take about two years longer to complete the northern option, with work probably starting in July 2006 rather than late 2004.
Mr Cheesmur said: "My recommendation to the Secretary of State is that, as this is a safety scheme, the southern route is the preferred route and should be built."
Government inspector William Hutchison will send his recommendations to transport secretary Alistair Darling, who will decide whether to accept the findings of the inquiry and make a decision on the link road's construction at a later date.
Published Friday, May 16, 2003
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