INVESTIGATION work is to be carried out into the possible need to widen the M11.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said such work was possible to help cope with the growth proposed in the draft East of England Plan - which includes tens of thousands of new homes - and the possible expansion of Stansted Airport.

Mrs Kelly told the House of Commons: "I consider that the form of capacity improvements to the M11 in the period before 2030 requires further assessment and as a result I've asked the Highways Agency to carry out further work to look into this."

Experts will study the forecast growth in the region to ensure the road is able to cope with the anticipated increase in traffic.

If widening of the M11 is required airport operator BAA will contribute towards the overall cost.

An announcement is expected shortly on the consultation over schemes required to provide access from the M11 and A120 to an expanded Stansted Airport, which BAA has agreed to fund in full.

Essex County Council highways and transportation cabinet member Norman Hume said: "It's been inevitable that the government would need to make substantial infrastructure improvements ever since they announced plans for the London to Stansted corridor and I'm disappointed it's taken them over five years to do it.

"Maybe this is the first sign of the government's belated realisation of its responsibility to provide even part of the necessary infrastructure for over 90,000 new homes in Essex.

"The pity at this stage, is those plans seem to be predicated on a second runway at Stansted Airport to which Essex County Council is totally opposed."

Consultation has already taken place over the widening of the M11 between junctions 6 and 8, and to improve the junction access from the M11 and the A120 to Stansted Airport.