Bradford Council and Low Moor traders are demanding immediate action by Railtrack to strengthen a bridge that has been causing chaos for almost a year.

Lane restrictions have been in place in Cleckheaton Road, Low Moor, since last December after a study by Bradford Council revealed it needed improvements to cater for heavy lorries under an EU directive.

It was hoped the repairs by Railtrack - which owns the bridge - would begin next year, but Railtrack has revealed that work on the bridge will not start until spring 2000.

The news has incensed shopkeepers who say the temporary traffic lights and one-way system is financially crippling them and causes major disruption for motorists.

Tony Andrusiak, 34, a partner at the Oakenshaw Service Centre, is demanding urgent action.

He said the continued disruption was scandalous and caused misery to traders, motorists and residents.

"At one stage we had four sets of traffic lights on this road owing to road and water repairs. We are all missing out on passing trade and we need to know when something is going to be done about it," he said.

Newsagent Terry Fannan said it had been his worse year of trading in 30 years. "I may have to lay off a member of staff as we are simply not busy in the mornings any more.''

Coun Phil Thornton, chairman of Bradford Council's highways committee, is also furious he has been unable to get concrete answers from Railtrack. He is urging the organisation to speed up its bridge strengthening work in Bradford.

A spokesman for Railtrack said the repairs would take some time as the organisation has hundreds of bridges to deal with, covering a total of 30 councils in the North of England alone.

But he added: "We are liaising with Bradford Council and we would welcome a face-to-face meeting with councillors."

The Low Moor Bridge is just one of four awaiting strengthening.

The others are Valley Road Bridge in Shipley, Leonard Street Bridge in Bingley and Roundwood Bridge in Baildon.

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