Work on a £7 million scheme to cut traffic congestion on one of Bradford's busiest roads begins this week.

The Quality Bus Initiative will see guided bus lanes introduced along a two-kilometre stretch of Huddersfield Road and Manchester Road, together with improved cyclist and pedestrian facilities.

The project is expected to take a year to complete. Phase one starts this week on a section from Netherlands Avenue to Odsal Top - it is due to be finished in two months.

Drivers are being warned to avoid the area, although at least two lanes in Manchester Road and Huddersfield Road will stay open to traffic travelling in both directions from 7.30am to 9.30am and from 3.30pm to 7pm.

Councillor Anne Hawksworth, the Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "This scheme will have an impact on local residents and traffic, but everything possible will be done to minimise disruption while work is going on."

But local Odsal councillor Dave Green is to demand urgent action over a dramatic increase in 'rat running'.

He said: "I support the scheme, but there are already major problems with rat running in heavily populated areas like Rooley Avenue and Carr Bottom Road.

"A minimal amount of money has been put aside to deal with these and other traffic calming issues and to protect the people who live in the areas affected.

"We'll raise the matter with the full Council next Tuesday to try and get some commitment that this will be dealt with as a matter of urgency."

The development - to encourage more people to use public transport - was first mooted by Bradford Council, First Bradford and Metro, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, last summer.

The guided buses will have special wheel attachments allowing them to travel down a central lane, free of other traffic. Newsletters explaining the work have been sent to residents and exhibitions on each phase of the project are planned for special neighbourhood forum meetings over the next few weeks.

A helpline is also available on (01274) 757621.