LONDON, Ont. — Plans for a ring road have hit snag, with the Ontario Municipal Board ruling that London can’t build freeways outside city limits unless neighbouring counties agree to them.

The heart of the problem is the northern portion of a proposed ring road around London. A consultant’s report had recommended building an expressway through Middlesex Centre, between Medway and Eight Mile roads.

The other portions of the proposed ring road are Clarke Road and Airport Road in the east, Highway 401 to the south, and a new western section that would be built near Westdel Bourne Road.

London city council wanted to build the northern portion of the ring road outside city limits, it said in October 2001, because buying the needed land within city boundaries would be too difficult and expensive.

But Middlesex County officials don’t want London building an expressway on their land, without their consent. They’re happy with the OMB’s ruling.

The OMB decision means London city council now has to look at other options such as extending or widening some existing roads within city limits. It’s not keen on that idea because some roads run through environmentally sensitive areas, and because it may not be able to afford buying land that’s already being developed.