Bradford's link to the motorway network has been reduced to a car park claim motorists.

The M606 from Bierley, Bradford, to the M62 has been gridlocked during the morning rush hour after a slip road onto the east-bound M62 towards Leeds was reduced from two lanes to one.

Police have been bombarded with complaints from angry commuters.

But West Yorkshire Police Motorway Unit Inspector Brian Linford said the lane reduction had successfully eased traffic flow and improved safety on the M62.

He said: "Motorists were diving on to the motorway from the slip road which was causing accidents and creating traffic jams back to Junction 23 west of Huddersfield.

"As far as we're concerned it's a success, the motorway has priority and traffic there is flowing better."

Insp Linford said he had been fielding calls from motorists stuck in queues approaching Chain Bar roundabout.

But he said his department was expected to recommend the slip road was kept to a single lane by the Highways Agency which introduced the change on January 17.

Chris Kirby, transport manager for J Coales and Son haulage on the Euroway Estate, said some mornings the M606 was completely gridlocked for two miles from top to bottom.

He said: "It's like a car park out there. We're here because we're next to the motorway network but often our drivers use other smaller roads to get out of Bradford."

Kevin Feather, of RW Feather and Son hauliers in Thornton Road, Bradford, said the hold-ups were pushing up costs.

Commuter Heather Fawcett, who regularly travels from Odsal to Leeds, said Bradford Road from Oakenshaw to Chain Bar was also choked by the change, along with Whitehall Road from Halifax.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said the police had asked them to alter the slip road following a series of accidents.

He said: "We have been monitoring it on a daily basis and as far as the M62 eastbound carriageway is concerned there has been a freeing-up of traffic.

"On the down side there has been varying degrees of congestion on the roundabout causing peak-time tailbacks.

"We are now awaiting an official response from the police."

Eric Hudson, President of Bradford Chamber of Trade, said: "The Highways Agency has got to come up with a better solution than this. It has a responsibility to all road users, no matter where they live."

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