A MAIN road through Keighley has been identified as one of the most traffic choked in the district.

The A6035 – which runs past Asda and the railway station and along East Parade – is in the top three for morning rush-hour congestion.

Average speeds drop to about 12mph, according to a Department of Transport survey.

Bradford Council says it is urgently investigating ways of ending the gridlock at hotspots across the district.

In Keighley, a £1.4 million one-way system is planned which councillors say will help ease the problem.

The jam-busting project has been given the green light by Keighley Area Committee and public consultation will begin next month.

Work could go ahead in the first half of next year.

The clockwise gyratory along East Parade, Hanover Street and Cavendish Street would also include new pedestrian crossings, a 20mph speed limit and several other traffic management measures.

And there will be new parking layouts in Cavendish Street and Hanover Street.

Town mayor, Councillor Graham Mitchell, said he was surprised the A6035 had been singled out as one of the district's most congested routes.

"I would think the A629 from Beechcliffe roundabout to the town centre is far worse – traffic queues along there at most times of the day and even on Sundays," he said

"The one-way system should go at least some way towards alleviating congestion, but we need to ensure it is in place before the new Worth Valley Shopping Centre opens in East Parade."

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council’s executive member for housing, planning and transport, said it was "very important" the situation was improved at hotspot areas.

The other two most clogged-up roads in the district identified in the survey are the A6181 southbound in Westgate, Bradford, and the A567 westbound between Greengates and Shipley.

"We acknowledge that there are traffic issues in the Bradford district but we are taking major steps to alleviate the worst congestion," she said.

"Once various road schemes are complete I think there will be a marked improvement in traffic flow through the district for both public and private vehicles.

"Not only will journey times be reduced, which brings significant economic benefits to the district, but there will be subsequent improvement in air quality.

"For businesses, it's important that we don't get gridlocked."

Bingley Rural councillor Simon Cooke, deputy leader of the Conservative group, said: "The three areas identified in the district are the ones I look to avoid at certain times of the day due to the traffic."