A 'rollercoaster' main road is expected to get top priority in a £1.6 million package to improve routes across the district.

Engineers say the foundations of traffic-snarled Otley Road, Baildon have been washed away and urgent restructuring is necessary.

Contractors will have to dig into the foundation to restore the road to a good condition.

The first phase of the scheme between Baildon Road and Hollins Hill will be carried out at a cost of £400,000 in a rolling programme of repairs and resurfacing work during the new financial year, starting in April.

The Council's highways sub-committee will be asked next Tuesday to approve repairs for 12 principal roads. But the officers say some may have to be listed for future years depending on the level of government funding available.

Sub-committee chairman Councillor Phil Thornton admitted some of the schemes could cause wide-scale disruption in many areas but said the Council would try to keep problems to a minimum.

He said: "There would be a lot more disruption if these schemes were not done. Otley Road is exactly like a rollercoaster."

Other schemes include: A657 Saltaire Road (phase two) - £130,000; A6176 Bolton Road - £120,000; A6177 Queens Road, Bradford - £150,000; A6177 Marlborough Road, Bradford - £100,000; A6034 Keighley Road, Silsden - £150,000; A629 Main Street, Denholme - £220,000; A6035/A629 Cavendish Street/ North Street, Keighley - £180,000; A6037 Canal Road/ Balme Street to Holdsworth Street - £100,000; A6177 North Cote Road/Killinghall Road - £150,000; A6181 Godwin Street/ Westgate/Sunbridge Road - £150,000; A629 Halifax Road, Sugden End - £180,000.

Councillors will also consider spending £270,000 on minor resurfacing work schemes.

A further £500,000 programme has also been drawn up covering smaller and unclassified roads in the district. It will include repairs and resurfacing of roads and footpaths and new kerbs.

l The committee will be asked to approve a £44,515 package of safety schemes which would include speed cushions and road humps.

The sites are Belgrave Road/ Highfield area, Keighley; Bing-ley Road/Baildon Moor, Baildon, and Cottingley Moor Road/ North Bank Road, Cottingley.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.