THE cost of building a new motorway junction on the M20 to ease congestion around a Kent town has soared by £11million, it has emerged.

The Highways Agency says constructing a new Junction 10a on the M20, south of the existing Junction 10, is now expected to cost £56million, an increase from the £45million first estimated.

But a suggestion that costs could be kept down by restricting capacity at the new junction, effectively limiting the amount of traffic it could take, has been successfully resisted by Ashford council chiefs.

Council leader Paul Clokie (Con) said: "The Highways Agency wanted to limit the junction's capacity to traffic levels expected by 2021, rather than 2031."

Consultation on the scheme is due to get underway this summer, with building work earmarked to begin about 2010.

* Full story in the Kentish Express (Thursday, May 17).