PLANS for a flyover to relieve congestion in the North Station area of Colchester on the table.

A wish list of projects to improve traffic problems in Colchester has been drawn up.

And Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council’s Deputy Leader and portfolio holder for infrastructure, has admitted creating a flyover is one option being considered to ease traffic around the congestion hotspot.

However, he admitted the project, similar to one at Chelmsford’s Army and Navy roundabout, would cost millions of pounds and would have to be backed by the public for him to push it forward.

But he added: “We will look at it.”

Another option, suggested some years ago, would be to build a tunnel running from the south of High Woods County Park near Turner Rise retail park, under the railway line and leading into Cowdray Avenue but this would prove more expensive.

Mr Bentley added: “What I am saying is we need to improve the area and look at all the possibilities we can do there.

“Once we have all the possibilities down we can start detailing what we need to do.”

Mr Bentley said once any technical possibilities had been considered with officers he would want to speak with borough councillors and gauge theirs and residents’ opinions.

He added: “What I am not going to do is impose anything on anyone.

“We have got to see what’s possible and fit the needs of local people too. And none of this comes for free, it costs lots of money.”

Mr Bentley met with Liberal Democrat councillors who represent the Mile End area of Colchester this week in which a list of demands were made for him to take back to County Hall.

Councillors included Martin Goss, who said the location of the exact flyover was still to be determined as it would depend on costs.

He had reservations saying a tunnel, or underpass, into Cowdray Avenue would simply move the traffic pinch point there from North Station.

He added: “The cost of doing the underpass - I have heard anything between £16 and £30million.

“Kevin’s personal views were a flyover would seem to be more feasible than going under the railway but there would have to be funding from central Government or some form of forward funding from Essex County Council.”

Businesses on Turner Rise Retail Park, which is on the North Station junction area, welcomed the idea.

Paul Hypes, store manager of Home Bargains, said: “The flyover seems like a fantastic idea but it depends on exactly where they would put it.

“Anything like that would have a benefit on our businesses.

“We do struggle sometimes to get people in because they don’t want to want to come up to the North Station area.

“Sometimes we have had people queuing for 90 minutes to two hours to get out of the car parks here. Anything like that would be a blessing.”

And Gary Stemmer, manager of Pizza Hut, said: “The main concern would be it would get worse before it gets better because they would have to do the work for it.

“But the end result would be great.

“Recently we are getting more customers because people are just fed up with waiting at the park but the knock on effect is afterwards people just stay away from the retail park.”