The cost of the Norwich Western Link is not "spiralling out of control", council leaders have insisted, as they refused to entertain pausing the controversial scheme.
Inflated construction costs - and the need to realign the route due to protected bats - have already pushed the cost of the 3.9-mile road up to £251m from the previous estimate of £198m.
And the opposition Labour group at Norfolk County Council say the final cost for the scheme could exceed £300m, as they called for the Conservative-controlled authority to halt the project.
Emma Corlett, Labour's deputy leader, said a number of councils, such as Lancashire County Council and Cumbria County Council had recently stalled major projects due to rising construction costs.
She said: "The cost of the Norwich Western Link is spiralling out of control
due to inflation even before it has obtained approval, with the project now likely to exceed £300m."
At a recent meeting of the county council's cabinet, she called on Martin Wilby, the council's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport to "do the right thing, press the red button and end this reckless project before it bankrupts the council."
However, Mr Wilby said: "It is not agreed that the project costs for the Norwich Western Link are spiralling out of control."
He said the council had made allowances for risk and inflation and that the project was important for communities affected by rat-running.
He said: "Any changes to the agreed project budget, if they occur, will be brought back to cabinet for it to consider."
The council says the scheme, which would connect the A1270 Norwich Northern Distributor Road to the A47 near Honingham and would include a viaduct over the River Wensum, will cut traffic congestion, improve air pollution and encourage economic growth.
But the project is opposed by organisations such as Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Rivers Trust, as well as the Labour and Green groups at County Hall.
The council is waiting to learn if the Department for Transport will support its business case for the road and agree to provide 85pc (£213.4m) of the cost.
READ MORE: £251m price tag for Norwich Western Link as bill soars by more than £50m
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