2.20 During late 2008 and early 2009, the Agency continued to assess whether to let the deal. The Agency's decision to continue reflected its view that, despite the price increase, the deal remained value for money. It also took into account:
• ongoing doubts about the technical suitability of the alternative of hard shoulder running for Section One;
• its concern that cancelling the project would adversely affect its reputation for procuring road projects and would lead to higher costs on other deals;
• the Government's general policy in early 2009 to let construction contracts to stimulate the economy;
• its concern that delaying the deal would result in a loss of benefits that the widening would bring; and
• the Department's consideration that the M25 widening is a high priority use of funds compared with other projects.