The current tunnel carries thousands of cars every day

A public inquiry into the proposed link between the A1 and A19 ended in April 2003, but the Department of Transport has still not made a final decision.

It has asked the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority to "fine-tune" plans and this is causing the delay, local planners claim.

This means the crossing between Howden and Jarrow will not open until 2009.

Paul Fenwick, Passenger Transport Authority project manager, said: "The Department of Transport has been looking over the plans, which are quite long and complex, and has raised one or two areas that needed to be modified.

'Car ownership'

"We've been answering those points of clarification and that is what is causing the delay."

He also said that once the plans got the go-ahead it would take three to four years for the tunnel, which will carry at least 35,000 cars every day, to be built.

Many of those who oppose the second tunnel are local residents. Alan Careless, of Espinay Walk in Jarrow, said: "I'm totally against it because it will bring down property prices in the area because of the volume of cars."

Transport expert Phil Blyth, based at Newcastle University, also warned that if the plans were delayed much longer the bridge would not cope with demand.

He said: "Car ownership is growing at such a rate that if the tunnel is delayed much longer its capacity will not be great enough to ease congestion."