An angry company boss today claimed work on one of Bradford's busiest roundabouts was 'ambling' towards the Millennium as motorists fumed in massive queues.

Work began on the Thornbury roundabout in April and was expected to finish last month.

A new date of this week was later given for completion of the work to alter the size of the roundabout and make space for an access to a new multi-million pound leisure company.

But Mike Small, managing director of Grace & Sutcliffe motor engineers in Thornbury, who travels daily with thousands of other motorists along the road, said they were still suffering major problems.

He said there had been some road surfacing work done last weekend but journeys were still being disrupted.

Mr Small of Fern Bank, Shell Lane, Calverley, demanded action by Bradford Council's highways department. He said there appeared to be little control of the situation by the authority.

He said: "I feel it is now time that the highways department took some interest and responsibility to ensure that the road is returned to the use of the motorist without further delay."

"The work is still ambling towards some sort of conclusion and it seems just possible that it may be completed for the Millennium."

Last month he accused workers of "deadly slowness" and said the most strenuous area of activity appeared to be moving traffic cones.

But at the time Neil Robertson, regional manager for Tolent Construction which is doing the work, strongly defended his employees. He said the work had to be done bit by bit because they were managing to keep the road open.

Councillor Latif Darr, chairman of the Transportation, Planning and Design Committee, said officers were monitoring the project constantly but the Council had no powers because the contractors were working for developers.

He added that he understood the Leeds side work would end this week but it could be several weeks before restrictions on the Bradford side ended.

"Public transport is also being affected by this and we are very concerned," he said.

Today, Neil Robertson said: "The disruptive work is behind us and we are now doing the small bits and pieces. We will be completed very shortly."

He said they had carried out a quality job safely, although they had come across some problems through working on an old existing road.

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