TRADERS fear there could be months of extra roadworks on Stroud’s busiest junction after new complications linked to the canal regeneration project were revealed this week.

Gloucestershire County Council has confirmed there is an £800,000 shortfall in plans to build a new bridge on the intersection of the A419 and the A46 at Wallbridge.

Officials have also announced that BT will have to carry out preliminary roadworks on the same junction before the bridge is constructed.

Stroud Chamber of Commerce, which previously complained that the disruption could shut down businesses, said traders fear the developments could cause further gridlock.

GCC has blamed the deficit on the withdrawal of British Waterways from the canal partnership last year.

However, Stroud District Council, which leads the partnership, claims it is too early to be sure there is in fact a funding shortage.

And both authorities, SDC and GCC, have pledged to work with traders and BT to minimise any disruption.

Carole Garfield, chairman of the chamber of commerce, said: "We want to talk to the county council to ask if there is any way we can combine these two pieces of work.

"We are concerned they are going to be major obstructions for anyone coming into Stroud for around 18 months.

"Our concern about the shortfall is that they will get halfway through the bridge and suddenly run out of money."

The news was announced at a recent meeting of the western canals consultative group, whose members include local authorities and traders.

Officials from GCC have told the SNJ there is an £800,000 funding shortfall for the estimated £2million project to build the bridge.

A computer traffic modelling survey is currently being conducted before a diversion is put in place around Bath Road and Rowcroft.

GCC still expects the main works to start in January and last for nine to 12 months .

Officials have also told the SNJ that BT plans to carry out roadworks on the junction in the summer to divert cables.

The work, which they claim cannot be combined with the bridge work, will require a diversion but it is too early to know where or for how long.

Lawrence Elcocks, GCC’s project manager, said: "We are talking to the Stroud Valleys Canal Company about how that deficit can be made up.

"We still hope to start the main works on the bridge, as scheduled, in January 2010 if the necessary funding can be secured.

"We will consult with the community about our traffic plans before the work starts, and will do what is possible to make sure the impact on the town is kept to a minimum."

An SDC spokesman said: "It is inevitable that construction of the new A46 bridge is going to cause some disruption but we will be working closely with both the county council and the chamber of commerce to keep it to the necessary minimum.

"We are waiting for details of the extent of work needed to be done by BT to re-route cables before the main work starts.

"Once we have this, we will sit down with the county council, BT and the chamber of commerce to find the best way forward for everyone.

"Any speculation in advance of this is premature.

"It is also premature to talk of underfunding on the bridge project. The work has not yet been out to tender, so the price is not known."