Main contractor Colas-Siac joint venture was awarded the £38m scheme in 2020 by Warwickshire County Council with an original completion date of Summer 2022.

But the job has been hit by problems leaving the “bridge to nowhere” across the A46 still unconnected at each end as costs continue to escalate with no finish date in sight.

In its latest update the council said the the project has “encountered unforeseen technical difficulties” but “there are limits to the things we can say, as we are bound by a contractual relationship.”

The update added: “It has proved impossible to obtain the specific backfill material required for placement behind the abutments on the new A46 bridge. Whilst an alternative material was identified, the quantities needed could not be provided. This has further delayed progress.

“The Council, National Highways (who will ultimately take ownership of the bridge) and the contractor have been developing a redesign for the bridge wingwalls that will allow the use of other types of backfill material.

“Developing the new design involves considering changes. We need to minimise any extra costs and delay to road users, whilst analysing how design changes impact the elements of the structure that have already been constructed and that meet the requirements of National Highways.

“Please be assured we are doing all we can to move this forward as quickly as possible.”

It added: “The delays to the completion of the scheme will impact the scheme costs.”

In its latest accounts Colas Siac posted a drop in profits which it mainly attributed to “challenges faced on project A46”