A new attempt by Ipswich Labour MP Jack Abbott to get a fresh look at a Northern Bypass has been slapped down by the Tory-run Suffolk County Council.
A spokesman for the county said the local authority had no comment to make on Mr Abbott's new call for the bypass plans to be reconsidered - and it was a debate they were prepared to engage with.
Earlier, Mr Abbott had demanded that the council backs the project ahead of a "summer of chaos."
It comes following the announcement that the Orwell Bridge will face seven weeks of repairs, resulting in a partial closure and the prospect of huge delays on the local road network throughout the summer.
Five years ago, Conservative-led Suffolk County Council cancelled work on an Ipswich Northern Bypass, and nothing further has happened.
While there was widespread support for the road in the town, there was strong opposition from the traditionally Conservative-voting communities to the north of Ipswich.
Fears about the future of the Orwell Bridge, and this summer's proposed work, have re-ignited the debate and encouraged Mr Abbott to press ahead.
But the current administration at the county continues to avoid any debate on the issue.
Mr Abbott said it had previously been estimated that a closure of the Orwell Bridge costs Ipswich up to £1million a day.
Mr Abbott has previously met with the Roads Minister on two separate occasions to discuss the issue, and, in January, raised the issue directly with the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions urging support to ‘drag the issue out of the local political quagmire.’
He said: “The repairs to the Orwell Bridge may be unavoidable, but the likely impacts will be amplified by a lack of an adequate alternative route, namely the Northern Bypass.
“All this is the result of years of indecision, and the blame for this damaging situation lies squarely at the feet of the Suffolk Conservatives who have repeatedly advocated for a ‘do nothing’ approach.
“So, yet again this summer, Ipswich and surrounding area will be asked to shoulder the burden for Conservative failure."
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