AN underpass not a flyover will solve the A419 Commonhead junction's chronic traffic problems, according to Swindon Council's cabinet committee.

Rejecting proposals put forward by the Highways Agency, the council's decision-making body believes the environment, local residents and road users will be better served with the more expensive option.

The Highways Agency, the body responsible for financing major road improvements and repairs, recognise the roundabout, close to junction 15 of the M4 and the new Great Western Hospital, urgently needs upgrading and in a recent consultation in which 400 people responded suggested 81 per cent favoured a flyover.

But the council's transport, planning and development control officer, Geoff Howe, said: "The Highways Agency favour a flyover, but an underpass would cause less of a visual and noise impact. However, it would mean digging below the water table and would be more of an expensive design."

In December last year the Evening Advertiser revealed that Transport Secretary Alistair Darling had approved an improvement scheme, estimated at £13 million, at Commonhead as part of a £5.5 billion national investment to tackle traffic hotspots across the country. The Highways Agency later suggested that should be in the form of a flyover.

But Conservative group deputy leader and the council's lead member for transport and environmental services, Coun Ian Dobie (Haydon Wick), said: "An underpass is far less visually intrusive and would offer residents living nearby considerable noise reduction benefits.

"I would like to see the Highways Agency opt for this more difficult solution because in the long-term it's going to be a better for residents."

The Highways Agency tabled three possible solutions to ease traffic congestion at Commonhead an improvement on the existing roundabout, a flyover or an underpass.

But not all agreed with the cabinet's unanimous decision.

Coun Gunter Gussefeld (Con, Dorcan) said: "I've spoken to residents and they're all under the impression that a flyover is the solution, not an underpass, and I tend to agree with them and the Highways Agency."

The cabinet's decision will be sent to the Highways Agency, who will finance the scheme in its entirety, and a public inquiry is likely to be called. Any improvement work is unlikely to start much before 2005 with the scheme expected to take between 12 and 18-months to complete to be ready by 2007.