The development is expected to displace 130 bat roosts but Reform UK county councillor, Vernon Smith, said he was astonished by the cost of the project.
“Environmental issues are important”, he said at a full council meeting on 25 March.
“But surely we could have done something far more sensibly costed for bat shelter.”
Tooke agreed the cost is significant, and said: “I would much prefer that money was spent on children’s services, education, libraries, all sorts of things.”
But said the council had a statutory duty to do it and had got four quotes for the projects.
A new junction providing better access to the M5 motorway is expected to be finished in 2029.