Motorists face weeks of disruption when work to prevent one of the district's busiest roads collapsing starts later this month.

Bradford Council began a £750,000 reconstruction project on the bumpy A6038 Otley Road at Baildon in 1999 after surveys revealed structural defects caused by water washing away material under the highway.

The first two phases saw foundation re-building and resurfacing as well as kerb and footway replacement work on the road between its junctions with Baildon Road and Fyfe Lane during the school summer holidays in 1999 and 2000.

The third phase covers the stretch between Fyfe Lane and Hoyle Court where road strengthening and resurfacing work will start on Monday, July 23.

Temporary traffic lights will be installed, with motorists advised to use alternative routes or face major delays.

The Council's project engineer, Keith Escritt, said: "The work should finish in the first week of September, by the time children are back at school, and is necessary as the concrete road under the Tarmac surface is in poor condition.

"Traffic from Shipley heading for Otley and Guiseley is advised to take an alternative route via Baildon Road, Station Road and Roundwood Road.''

Meanwhile drivers heading for Bradford from Guiseley and Otley are advised to find an alternative route - possibly via Greengates and Harrogate Road - or proceed through the temporary lights, which will be phased in their favour apart from during the afternoon rush hour.

Councillor John Cole (Lib Dem, Baildon), who lives just off Otley Road, said: "There will be several weeks of disruption. The inconvenience will be a nuisance but it will be temporary. The important thing is to get the road right because in parts it does need fundamental rebuilding.

"The condition of the road was one of the worst in Bradford and it was certainly long overdue for a rebuild.

"They're doing the work during the school holidays again and I feel everything is being done to minimise disruption.''