COUNCILLORS will be given a progress update on a major £9.7 million road improvement project.

The scheme would see the widening of Hard Ings Road, one of Keighley’s most congested highways, and last month Bradford Council's Executive submitted a funding request for the project to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, with a decision expected before the end of the year.

On Tuesday members of the Council's Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee will discuss the plans, which have already been delayed by a year.

They will be told that work is due to start early in the 2019/20 financial year, and last for around 54 weeks.

The report says: "The scheme has been subject to a number of delays throughout its development, most notably in relation

to land assembly issues, which have delayed construction from the initially programmed 2017/18 date to 2019/20."

It adds: "Journey time savings between the A629 dual carriageway section and the A650 Aire Valley Road (eastbound) are predicted to be 10 per cent in the morning and 71 per cent in the evening peak period, in the opening year of 2020.

"Journey time savings for vehicles travelling in the opposite direction are 18 per cent and 31 per cent in the morning and evening peaks respectively.

"The scheme also supports economic growth having the potential to open up the wider areas for new development and improves connectivity with other commercial centres around Keighley.

"The scheme will facilitate potential housing development in the immediate area."

The new scheme will feature two lanes in each direction. There will also be additional traffic signals to make junctions more efficient. Meanwhile, safer pedestrian routes, cycle ways and crossings will be introduced as part of the project.

The committee meets in City Hall at 5.30pm.