Original plans drawn up in the late 1990s for converting the A41 to a dual carriageway and bypassing Aston Clinton included a low level crossing of the canal, which would have prevented restoration. However, negotiations resulted in the Highways Agency funding a diversion of the canal to a point where there was sufficient headroom for navigation. The Trust argued that an  pipe to carry away rain water from the road would be insufficient in storm conditions, and that excavating  of new canal would be a better solution.
In the late 1990s, plans were made to convert the A41 into a dual carriageway and bypass Aston Clinton. These plans included a low-level crossing of the canal, which could have impeded restoration efforts. However, negotiations resulted in the Highways Agency funding an alternative route for the canal that allowed sufficient height for navigation. The Trust argued that a pipe to manage rainwater from the road was insufficient during storms, and that excavating a new canal would be a better solution.