CROSSRAIL has quashed concerns over the route lorries will take to transport building materials to Shenfield station when long-awaited work commences next year.

Bosses from the multi-billion pound project, which will link Shenfield to central London and as far west as Reading, were in town to present details on the project.

Councillors highlighted a possible change to the route which would see heavy goods vehicles use residential roads, including Alexander Lane, Oliver Road and Hunter Avenue in the town.

Crossrail bosses insist there is nothing to worry about.

A spokesman said: “We understand residents’ concerns about the improvement works.

“But a huge amount of effort is going in to making sure any impact is kept to a mum. By delivering the majority of construction materials to the work sites by rail, we have been able to reduce significantly the number of lorry movements around Shenfield.

“The vast majority of lorries will come off the main road and into Friars Avenue car park and Mount Avenue car park.

“A route around Hunters Avenue and Alexander Lane is being maintained, but we expect lorries to use this only on very rare occasions.

“Crossrail and Network Rail will be inviting the county and district councils to form a traffic liaison group to discuss the lorry routes and other issues around traffic flow.”

Council leader Barry Aspinell, though, has called the residential route “madness” and wants to see it scrapped.

He said: “The route will take heavy vehicles down our small residential streets, which are just unsuitable.

“I don’t understand why they would inflict this misery on our residents.”

Work at Shenfield station is set to begin by Christmas 2015, with completion by March 2017.