Safety concerns delay full opening of A1073 road scheme
The opening of part of a new £80m road which goes through Lincolnshire has been delayed over safety concerns, the county council has confirmed.
It was hoped the new A1073 between Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire would open before the autumn.
Now a section of road will remain closed because of movement in an embankment near to the Car Dyke Bridge close to Peterborough.
The scheme has encountered many delays over its funding and route.
Work finally began in February 2008 on the project which covers the stretch of road from Spalding, in Lincolnshire, to Eye, in Cambridgeshire.
Councillor William Webb, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council said: "Geotechnical experts are carrying out tests which will determine the best course of action to stabilise the embankment.
"Until the issue near Car Dyke has been resolved, we are unfortunately unable to open that section of road", Mr Webb added.
"We are naturally disappointed that this section has not been able to open as early as anticipated.
"We look forward to the new road being fully opened in due course, allowing all the local communities to benefit from improved safety and relief from congestion, and for the region to benefit from the important strategic link to the East of England."
The scheme encountered many delays as a debate took place over the funding and route for the project.
The route of the road was finally resolved at a public inquiry.
Former Lincolnshire County Council leader Jim Speechley was jailed for 18 months in April 2004 after a jury decided he had tried to benefit financially from the route of the new road.