MAJOR traffic disruptions are expected due to a new road closure in the Aire Valley - and drivers from Craven heading for the Keighley area are warned to find alternative routes if possible.

The dual carriageway running up to Hard Ings Road in Keighley from Silsden and South Craven will be reduced to one lane between Monday November 4 and next spring.

The lane reduction will add to traffic misery already suffered by drivers using the Hard Ings Road area since widening work began in spring this year.

The latest measure concerns the 'Beechcliffe roundabout', the middle roundabout of three on Hard Ings Road in Keighley.

Traffic will be reduced to a single lane on the A629 Aire Valley Road as it approaches the roundabout from Steeton/Silsden roundabout.

Bradford Council today said the work was necessary so that an additional lane could be added to the A629 from Beechliffe roundabout, as part of the project to widen and improve traffic flow through Keighley.

A spokesman said: “To do this, we have to reduce the Keighley-bound side of the dual carriageway to one lane with a speed limit of 30mph from until mid to late spring.

“There will be no change to the Skipton-bound side of the A629 dual carriageway and Hard Ings will have two lanes running at all times.

“People have been advised of the disruption via an e-newsletter and electronic traffic signs."

Howard Civil Engineering, which is carrying out the road improvement project, warned that there would be traffic disruption in the area, especially at peak times.

It said: "We would advise you to take alternative routes during this time, if possible, and also allow extra time for your journeys, both at peak times and throughout the day.

"Please bear with us during this moment of increased traffic disruption, necessary for the resulting long-term improvements to your road network.

“We apologise for any delays or inconvenience this may cause and advise people to use alternative routes where possible.”

Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are spending £10.3 million on the ambitious improvements to the A650 Hard Ings Road between the Victoria Park and Beechcliffe roundabouts.

The council estimates that drivers will save more than 40,000 hours a year of travel time once Hard Ings Road is widened, and will see dramatic savings in travel time, as high as 71% on current journeys during the evening rush hour.

Experts claim the work, which is due to last 58 weeks, will also stop jams getting worse at the bottleneck as traffic continues to increase.

Centrepiece of the project – Keighley’s biggest road project in 30 years – is the widening of the road to two lanes on each side.

The work also involves an additional lane for traffic approaching the Beechcliffe roundabout on the A629 Aire Valley Road, with new traffic lights.

There will also be improvements to the Lawkholme Lane junction including a new crossing; new street lighting; giant digital signs for traffic information; new landscaping; and replacement paving including a shared cycle lane.