A council has been slammed after building a "bridge to nowhere" that leads to a dead end before running out of money.
Lincolnshire County Council failed to finish the planned Spalding Western Relief Road as part of a wider plan to ease traffic on the A16.
While the bridge over the Lincoln to Peterborough rail line was completed last year, the route comes to a sudden stop shortly afterwards.
The council, which Reform UK gained from the Conservatives, has now confirmed the project will not be finished until at least 2030 because it cannot afford to complete the project sooner.
The bridge to the dead-end was completed
Lincolnshire County Council
In its 2025-26 budget, the authority has set aside £27.7million towards building the southern section of the road.
However, this falls short of the estimated cost of £50-£60million, leaving the road uncompleted.
The council, which spent £11,500 a year to run eight diversity courses, said they are working closely with South Holland district council to identify funding opportunities.
A spokesman added a new roundabout had already unlocked land for housing on either side of the railway and a significant start had been made on-site, with these homes soon to be added to the available housing stock.
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Construction on the bridge over the railway line
Lincolnshire County Council
A spokesman for the council said: "Construction of the north section of the Spalding Western Relief Road was completed in October 2024.
"In the approved 2025-26 council budget, there is currently £27.7million earmarked towards building the southern section of the road in the future.
"However, the current estimated cost of building this section is between £50-60million, which means external funding will be needed.
"That is why we are continuing to work closely with South Holland district council to identify funding opportunities, including remaining in touch with Homes England."
The road ends in a dead end meaning motorists are forced to turn back on themselves
Lincolnshire County Council
They continued: "In addition, no funding has yet been allocated or secured for the middle sections of the relief road as these are intended to be built in the long term."
The first consultation for the Holland Park development began in July 2011.
However, the bridge is being constructed as part of Holland Park Housing Development which received outline planning permission in May 2012.
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