Motorists and residents in north Colchester have been warned of more delays during the completion a major new highway.

When the new Northern Approaches Road project got under way last year, it was expected to take 34 weeks to finish.

Because of a number of hitches, including a pierced gas main at North Station, the expected completion date was extended to April 9.

But now there are signs that the project could take even longer, because of anticpated difficulties with a new signalling system at North Station.

A spokeswoman for Cofton, the firm carrying out the work, said the completion date would be announced by Colchester Council.

Chris Arnold, the council's portfolio holder for transport and strategic planning, said the council was not involved in building the road but was overseeing the running of the project.

He said: "April 9 is still the date we are working towards but it could take a little longer. It depends on the signalling arrangements. Essex County Council is not certain whether all the work will have been done to take the new signals by that date."

Mr Arnold said the council had delayed Cofton in its work, adding the reasons for those delays were in the interests of road users.

He said the council had got Cofton to open up Turner Road into a two-lane highway during the Christmas period and that had added to the amount of time the works would take.

Published Monday, February 24, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette