Gannon said the 1960s-built flyover had to be routinely inspected every week due to its age.

He said funding was in place to demolish it, with a plan to start work towards the end of the decade.

However, due to the latest issue, that could now take place sooner.

“It was going to be a major operation – to remove that flyover could be up to two years of work causing major disruption,” he said.

“We have to wait and see what the engineers say. Maybe that work can be done to stabilise it.

“However, if they say that pier is unsalvageable then it means the upper level will have to be closed, effectively permanently, and then we will have to decide what we will do with the under level.”

Liberal Democrat Ron Beadle said the council should have acted sooner and had known the road needed repairs for more than 10 years.

He added its priority should be to remove the flyover and reopen the A167 at ground level.

The council said it had previously been told the flyover could continue to be used safely while it developed a “longer-term” plan, and any issues had been addressed as part of its “increased monitoring”.