The controversial Inverness West Link road project was last night branded a “a financial train crash” amid fresh claims its cost could spiral out of control.
A leading opponent of the scheme urged Highland Council to produce hard and fast figures for the work as it emerged a long-running dispute over supermarket giant Tesco’s contribution has not been resolved.
And Inverness Civic Trust chairman John West said he feared the final bill could top £60million.
But leading members of the local authority’s administration rejected suggestions that the budget for the link road was out of control.
Tesco had been expected to pay £340,000 towards the project, which has an estimated cost of at least £34million.
The scheme – known as Option Six – will involve two new bridges over the River Ness and Caledonian Canal to link the A82 Inverness-Fort William route with Dores Road.
New sports facilities will be built at nearby Torvean to compensate for those lost at the Bught.
Mr West said that while the sum due from Tesco represented a small percentage of the project’s total cost, it was time for the council to say exactly how much money would be required for the new route.
The most recent estimate was given in autumn last year – and was £7million more than 2011’s original forecast.
Mr West said local authority members must debate the current cost of the project, including the proposed sports facilities.
He said that he thought the scheme could cost more than £60million.
He also suggested that the council had put itself in a weak negotiating position with landowners in the area by announcing that it was committed to buying the ground.
He said: “Option Six is a financial train crash waiting to happen. The train is at full speed, the lights at danger, but the train driver has his head in the coal bucket.”
He added: “People have compared the project with the Scottish Parliament building and the Edinburgh trams, but it isn’t the same.
“Those projects had a budget, even though it turned out to be wrong. At least they went through the exercise.
“With this, no one can came back and say ‘you overspent’.”
Mr West’s calls for more information were backed by Inverness South Independent councillor Jim Crawford, who said: “There should not be any grey areas about the cost.”
But Councillor Thomas Prag, chairman of the planning, development and infrastructure committee, said the budget was “not out of control”.
He said: “We can’t produce a full budget until we know the full details of every part of it.
“To imply that the council has no idea of the cost is mischievous to say the least.”
And council convener Jimmy Gray said that some increases were “inevitable” with a project of such a scale.
Meanwhile, councillors will be given their say on the next steps to get money from Tesco for the project.
The retailer was expected to make the payment as part of a planning agreement signed in October 2001 when it was seeking permission for its fourth Inverness store in Dores Road, which is close to the West Link site.
The supermarket expects the new route to be a catalyst for extra homes in the area, and claims it is losing revenue at present.
However, its is withholding the West Link money and says that a 10 year limit for completion of the road has expired.
Negotiations between the two parties reached an impasse last year.
But now council officials are preparing a report about the ongoing dispute.
A spokeswoman for Highland Council said: “Members will shortly be updated as to the options for recovery open to the council and will be asked to determine the next steps.”
However it is unclear which committee will discuss the report and no date has been set.
Tesco made a £10million investment and created 100 jobs with its Dores Road store.
The council believes the supermarket has benefited from the upgrading of roads around the Ness-side store.
It will also benefit when housing is built on land surrounding the new link road.
A spokesman for Tesco said: “Discussions with Highland Council on this matter are ongoing.”