Motorists have been warned that major diversions will be in place when one of Bradford's busiest roundabouts is converted into a traffic- light junction later this month.

The £3 million project installing the system at the roundabout at the junction of Manchester Road and Mayo Avenue is part of a big road improvement scheme for Bradford South.

It will mean 60 hours of continuous work beginning on Friday, October 24.

The junction will be re-opened on Monday, October 27, at 6am as a signal-controlled junction, including the new link road from Manchester Road North to Mayo Avenue.

The existing junction will be partly closed and the whole of the roundabout will be narrowed to a single traffic lane.

Approach roads to the roundabout will also be narrowed to a single lane just before the roundabout.

Martin Thornton of the South Bradford Integrated Transport Improvement Project said alternative routes had been provided and direction signs would go up throughout Bradford advising drivers of the best routes.

He apologised for any inconvenience while the roundabout was being changed although, he said, the Council would try to ensure disruption was kept to the minimum.

But Odsal ward Councillor Dave Green was seeking urgent talks with highways chiefs because he feared there could be major traffic problems.

Road surfacing work at nearby Odsal roundabout in June caused chaos and sparked hundreds of complaints when motorists became gridlocked.

The Council blamed contractors for problems including a lack of diversion signs, a delay to the start of work, poor communications and poor policing.

"These diversions mean traffic will come flooding on to Wibsey High Street which already suffers serious problems," said Councillor Green, "People in Smiddles Lane already have problems getting out and will now be completely stuck. It will mean serious problems."

He said he believed rat-running would take place throughout the area and there had been inadequate consultation with local people and ward councillors.

Steve Barton, Bradford Council's head of service, major works, said he would ask officers to investigate Coun Green's concerns.